- [Announcer] "Celebrate America Across Montana with Tim Janis" is brought to you in part by Don and Marilyn Murdock, the Element Hotel, the Montana State University School of Music, the Friends of Montana PBS, and by viewers like you, thank you.

(bright guitar music) - Welcome to "Celebrate America."

I'm Tim Janis, the artistic director.

This is the ninth time Montana PBS has produced this program as a way to showcase many of Montana's talented young people from across the state.

For many of these choirs, "Celebrate America" is an important opportunity to experience the process of rehearsals and performances in the TV studio, an environment rarely available to middle and high school students.

I think of "Celebrate America" as a music with a mission, because I feel it provides a great experience for students and that they'll carry this with them for the rest of their lives.

And I also feel that this accomplishment can be a source of pride for the students, their parents, and grandparents, and all of the family.

Last of all, the music itself is so inspiring and uplifting to all of us, and comfort us during these trying times.

I'm so proud and pleased to be part of this mission.

Now, I'm normally in the studio with all the students, but this year I couldn't be there, so two faculty members of Montana University School of Music, Elizabeth Schmidt and Greg Young, have agreed to take on the hosting duties for me.

Please allow me to introduce Elizabeth.

She's a relatively new faculty member at MSU, teaching the French horn, as well as a number of other courses, to musicians of all disciplines.

Dr. Schmidt is a member of both the Bozeman and the Billings Symphony, and also the Intermountain Opera Orchestra, as well as being an active player in the vibrant chamber music scene in Montana.

Please join me in welcoming Elizabeth to Studio A.

(gentle guitar music) - Thank you, Tim, and welcome to "Celebrate America" here in Studio A at Montana PBS.

I'm Elizabeth Schmidt.

We have a number of wonderful choirs in the studio today from schools all across Montana.

Anaconda is home to our first group under the direction of Kimberly Lorengo.

Kim, would you tell us a bit about Anaconda and about your participation in "Celebrate America?"

- Thank you.

We're the Choraleers from Anaconda High School.

Go Copperheads!

Our home is located in the Pintler Mountains in Southwest Montana.

This is the fifth time the Choraleers have participated in "Celebrate America," and we are honored to once again celebrate music in this great state.

(gentle music) ♪ O beautiful ♪ For spacious skies ♪ For amber waves of grain ♪ For purple mountain ♪ Majesties ♪ Above the fruited plain ♪ America ♪ America ♪ God shed His grace on thee ♪ And crown thy good ♪ With brotherhood ♪ From sea to shining sea ♪ America ♪ America ♪ God shed His grace on thee ♪ And crown thy good ♪ With brotherhood ♪ From sea to shining sea (majestic music) ♪ America ♪ America ♪ God shed His grace on thee ♪ And crown thy good ♪ With brotherhood ♪ From sea ♪ To shining sea (gentle guitar music) - Thank you to the Anaconda Choraleers.

The Sweet Grass County High School Choir is going to perform next.

Their director is Jaclyn Terland.

Jaclyn, would you tell us a bit about your school and the choice of music that you have for us today?

- Yes, we are the Sweet Grass County High School Sweet Sixteen from Big Timber, Montana.

Big Timber is a town of about 1,500 people located between Billings and Bozeman near the beautiful Crazy Mountains.

It's a town that was founded on the wool industry in the late 1800s, which is why our high school mascot is the Sheepherder.

Today, we will be performing "Wayfaring Stranger," a song that speaks of hope, even when we are going through difficult times.

(gentle piano music) ♪ Ooh ♪ Ooh ♪ I'm just a poor ♪ Wayfaring stranger ♪ A-traveling through ♪ This world of woe ♪ There's no sickness ♪ Toil or danger ♪ In that bright land ♪ To which I go (gentle piano music) ♪ I know dark clouds ♪ Will gather round me ♪ I know my way ♪ Is rough and steep ♪ But peaceful fields ♪ Lie just beyond me ♪ Where souls redeemed ♪ Their vigil keep ♪ I'm going there ♪ To meet my mother ♪ I'm going there ♪ No more to roam ♪ I'm just a-going ♪ Over Jordan ♪ I'm just a-going ♪ Over home (gentle piano music) ♪ I want to wear ♪ To wear a crown of glory ♪ Forevermore ♪ On that bright shore ♪ That peaceful shore ♪ I want to shout ♪ To sing and shout the story ♪ Shout the story ♪ And sing his praise ♪ Forevermore ♪ I'm going there to meet my father ♪ ♪ I'm going there no more to roam ♪ ♪ I'm just a-going ♪ Over Jordan ♪ I'm just a-going ♪ Over home ♪ I'm just a-going ♪ Over Jordan ♪ I'm just a-going ♪ Over home (gentle guitar music) - Thank you to the Sweet Grass County High School Sweet Sixteen.

The next choir is from Red Lodge.

Their director is Jennifer Coutts.

Jennifer, could you tell us a bit about Red Lodge?

- Sure, Elizabeth.

Located in South-Central Montana, the population in Red Lodge is nearly 2,300 people, including 177 students in the high school.

Our school mascot is the Rams.

Nestled in Montana's magnificent Beartooth Mountains and surrounded by Custer Gallatin National Forest, Red Lodge delivers world-class outdoor recreation and access to Yellowstone National Park via the world-renowned Beartooth Highway.

Originally a resting place for Crow Indians, this valley was eventually discovered by European settlers.

And with the opening of a post office in 1884, the town of Red Lodge was officially established.

Like many towns in the West, Red Lodge was built on mining.

In our historic downtown, there are many locally owned shops, quality restaurants, and plenty of accommodations and entertainment.

No matter what the season, Red Lodge is your base camp to the Beartooths.

(gentle piano music) ♪ Be Thou my vision ♪ O Lord of my heart ♪ Naught be all else to me ♪ Save that Thou art ♪ Thou my best thought ♪ By day or by night ♪ Waking or sleeping ♪ Thy presence my light ♪ Be Thou my wisdom ♪ And Thou my true word ♪ I ever with Thee ♪ And Thou with me, Lord ♪ Thou my soul's shelter ♪ And Thou my high tower ♪ Raise Thou me heavenward ♪ O power of my power ♪ Riches I need not ♪ Nor vain empty praise ♪ Thou my inheritance ♪ Now and always ♪ Be Thou and Thou only ♪ First in my heart ♪ High King of heaven ♪ My treasure Thou art ♪ High King of heaven ♪ My victory won ♪ May I reach heaven's doors ♪ And bright heaven's sun ♪ Great heart of my own ♪ Whatever befall ♪ Still be my vision ♪ O ruler of all Welcome back to Studio A.

We're so glad you could join us.

Joining me now is Morgan Kirk, the choir director from Belgrade High School.

Morgan, would you tell us a bit about your choir and about your community?

- Yeah, we're the Chamber Choir from Belgrade High School located just outside Bozeman in the beautiful Gallatin Valley.

The students are in grades 10 through 12, and they audition to be part of this ensemble.

Today we will be performing "O Love" composed by Elaine Hagenberg, and we've chosen this piece because of the powerful, hopeful message it delivers about finding joy in times of sorrow.

(gentle guitar music) (water trickling) (gentle piano music) ♪ O love ♪ O love ♪ O love ♪ That will not let me go ♪ O love ♪ I rest my weary ♪ Soul in thee ♪ I give thee back ♪ The life I owe ♪ That in thy ocean ♪ Depths its flow ♪ May richer, fuller be ♪ O joy ♪ O joy ♪ O joy ♪ That seeks me through ♪ The pain ♪ O joy ♪ I cannot ♪ Close my heart to thee ♪ I trace the rainbow ♪ Through the rain ♪ And feel the promise ♪ Is not vain ♪ That morn shall tearless be ♪ That morn shall tearless be ♪ That morn shall tearless be ♪ O love ♪ O love ♪ O love ♪ That will not let me go ♪ O love ♪ I rest my weary soul ♪ In thee ♪ I give thee back ♪ The life I owe ♪ I give thee back ♪ The life I owe ♪ I give thee back ♪ The life I owe ♪ That in thy ocean ♪ Depths its flow ♪ Shall richer, fuller be ♪ That morn shall tearless be ♪ O love ♪ O love ♪ O love ♪ O love ♪ O love ♪ O love ♪ That will not let me go ♪ O love ♪ That will not ♪ Let me go (gentle guitar music) - Thank you to the Chamber Choir from Belgrade.

Hello, if you're just joining us, I'm Tim Janis, the artistic director of "Celebrate America."

Hasn't this been a wonderful performance of the students?

We can certainly be proud of all the young people and their teachers.

As I mentioned earlier, I'm not able to be in the studio with the choirs this year, but Elizabeth Schmidt has been helping with the hosting duties.

Now, for the second half of "Celebrate America," Greg Young will take over for me.

Just a little bit about Greg.

He joined the musical faculty at Montana State University in 1988.

Greg, or Dr. Young, has served as the vice president of undergraduate education, assistant dean of the College of the Arts and Architecture, and a director of the School of Music.

He's currently a clarinetist with the International Opera and Bozeman Symphony Orchestra.

Greg has been a strong advocate for interdisciplinary undergraduate research, and he teaches both clarinet and composition.

He's also a published author and has toured throughout the world as a soloist and conductor.

Please join me in welcoming Greg to Studio A.

- Thank you, Tim.

I'm Greg Young.

As we continue with "Celebrate America," the Sacajawea Middle School Choir joins us under the direction of Charlotte Colliver.

Charlotte, would you tell us a bit about your school and this choir?

- Yeah.

Thanks, Greg.

Sacajawea Middle School, home of the Falcons, is located in beautiful Bozeman, Montana.

With close to 900 students in the school, Sacajawea Middle School reflects the growth and change of the city's population.

The Sacajawea Select Choir is comprised of auditioned sixth, seventh, and eighth graders that are in the general choir program.

These students are selected for their musical talent, dedication, work ethic, character, and leadership qualities.

These amazing singers keep me young and loving the profession I chose so many years ago.

(gentle piano music) ♪ Lo ♪ Lah oh ♪ Lo ♪ Lah oh ♪ Stand alone ♪ See the rain that's falling ♪ Down below where I'm reaching ♪ ♪ Joining hands ♪ Slowly takes us to a place ♪ We all can believe in ♪ Side by side we could be ♪ Growing hopes and dreams ♪ If we stand together ♪ We will sing ♪ Of the dreams within our hearts ♪ ♪ If we stand ♪ We will see ♪ Side by side ♪ Hope will find a way ♪ To our hearts (indistinct singing) ♪ A place we can dream of (indistinct singing) ♪ Believe in ♪ Side by side we could be ♪ We could be ♪ Growing hopes and dreams ♪ If we stand ♪ We will sing ♪ Of the dreams in our hearts ♪ If we stand ♪ We will see ♪ Side by side ♪ We will find a way ♪ To our hearts ♪ We will stand side by side ♪ With our dreams we will sing ♪ We will sing for freedom ♪ When we sing ♪ With our hearts ♪ We will (indistinct) ♪ If we stand ♪ We will sing ♪ Of the dreams in our hearts ♪ If we stand ♪ We will see ♪ Side by side hope will find a way ♪ ♪ To our hearts (indistinct singing) ♪ To our hearts (gentle guitar music) - Our thanks to the Sacajawea Select Choir.

Our next group hails from Deer Lodge.

Karen Herrin directs the Powell County High School Choir.

Karen, please tell us a little bit about the choir's hometown and about the experience of participating in "Celebrate America."

- Thank you, Greg.

Hello, we are the Powell County High School Select Choir from Deer Lodge, Montana, the home of the Wardens.

This is our third invitation to "Celebrate America."

It is a great learning experience for young people to see the inner workings of a television production studio, from the large number of people who operate and position cameras and microphones, to the video and sound engineers behind the scenes, and ultimately to the director giving instructions to the choirs and coordinating with all the people in the room.

We enjoy participating in "Celebrate America," not only as a choral experience, but as a unique opportunity to glimpse into a world that high school students are not usually exposed to.

(majestic music) ♪ From shining seas ♪ To mountains high ♪ Where eagles soar ♪ From lofty heights ♪ My heart belongs ♪ To this great land ♪ The spirit of America ♪ Lives in me ♪ So let freedom ring ♪ Let freedom ring ♪ Across the plains ♪ Across the plains ♪ While hand in hand ♪ Together we stand ♪ Together we stand ♪ The real light ♪ Shines across the world ♪ The spirit of America ♪ Each time the flag unfurls ♪ I feel the spirit of America ♪ Each time the flag unfurls ♪ Ooh, ooh, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ah ♪ The stars and stripes ♪ The stars and stripes ♪ Waving in the dark ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ To keep the dream alive ♪ God bless you all ♪ For what you did for me ♪ Your spirit is America ♪ And you kept us free ♪ God bless America ♪ The home ♪ Of the free ♪ The free (gentle guitar music) - Thank you to the Powell County Select Choir.

Fairfield, Montana is home for our next choir.

Their director is Sarah Carpenter.

Sarah, would you tell us a little bit about your community and school?

- This is the Fairfield High School Choir comprised of 9 through 12th grade students.

We are located along the Rocky Mountain Front between Great Falls and Choteau near Freezeout Lake.

Our mascot is the Eagle.

Our school and community pride ourselves on our students' excellence in both academics and athletics.

We are very excited to be participating in "Celebrate America" for the second year.

(bright music) ♪ Hey o lay o lay lay lay ♪ Hey o lay o lay lay lay ♪ Hey o lay o lay lay lay ♪ Hey o lay o lay lay lay ♪ A new hope is rising (indistinct singing) ♪ Make a difference ♪ You just got to believe ♪ You gotta have faith ♪ Before you're gonna move mountains ♪ ♪ You gotta have hope ♪ Hope, yeah ♪ Before you're gonna see blue skies ♪ ♪ Before you're gonna move mountains ♪ ♪ You're gonna have to have faith ♪ ♪ If you wanna move mountains ♪ You're gonna have to have faith ♪ ♪ Now it's time to begin ♪ To (indistinct singing) ♪ Bringing light ♪ To darkness on the earth ♪ Prayers getting answered ♪ Hope is inland ♪ Make a difference ♪ You just got to believe ♪ You gotta have faith ♪ If you wanna move mountains ♪ You've gotta have hope ♪ Hope, yeah ♪ Before you're gonna see blue skies ♪ ♪ Before you're gonna move mountains ♪ ♪ You gotta have faith ♪ If you're gonna move mountains ♪ ♪ You're gonna have to have faith ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ New land, America ♪ Before we serve to the hope ♪ For those in need ♪ With the hungry eyes of a child ♪ ♪ How can we fight this fight ♪ We gotta keep on trying ♪ Keep on trying ♪ We gotta have faith ♪ If we're gonna move mountains ♪ ♪ We gotta have hope, yeah ♪ Before we're gonna see blue skies ♪ ♪ Yeah, faith ♪ Gonna move mountains ♪ You've gotta have hope ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ Before we're gonna see blue skies ♪ ♪ If we're gonna move mountains ♪ ♪ You're gonna have to have faith ♪ ♪ If you're gonna move mountains ♪ ♪ You gotta have faith (gentle guitar music) Welcome back to Studio A and "Celebrate America."

Next, we welcome the Choteau High School Choir under the direction of Lorran Depner.

Lorran, would you tell us a bit about your hometown and why you're participating in "Celebrate America?"

- We are the Concert Choir from Choteau High School.

Choteau is home to the mighty Bulldogs and is located along the Rocky Mountain Front 45 miles northwest of Great Falls.

We chose to participate in "Celebrate America" 2022 because life is all about seizing opportunities.

This is a wonderful example of an opportunity that most students standing here will never experience again, but will reflect back on and talk about the rest of their lives.

♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ Some bright morning ♪ When this life is over ♪ I'll fly away ♪ To that home on God's celestial shore ♪ ♪ I'll fly away ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ I'll fly away ♪ I'll fly away, oh glory ♪ I'll fly away ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ When I die ♪ Hallelujah, by and by ♪ I'll fly away ♪ Oh, when the shadows ♪ Of this life have gone ♪ I'll fly away ♪ Oh, like a bird ♪ From these prison walls ♪ I'll fly away ♪ Oh ♪ I'll fly away ♪ I'll fly away, oh glory ♪ I'll fly away ♪ Ooh ♪ When I die ♪ Hallelujah, by and by ♪ I'll fly away ♪ Just a few more weary days and then ♪ ♪ I'll fly away ♪ To live where joys will never end ♪ ♪ I'll fly away ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ I'll fly away ♪ I'll fly away, oh glory ♪ I'll fly away ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ When I die ♪ Hallelujah, by and by ♪ I'll fly away ♪ I'll fly away (gentle guitar music) - A big thank you to the Choteau High School Concert Choir.

The Corvallis High School Choir is next.

Their director, Heidi Schnarr, is unable to be with us today but Emily Athman has been gracious enough to fill in.

Emily, would you tell us a bit about the choir and about Corvallis?

- This is the Chanteur Choir from Corvallis High School.

Corvallis is in the Bitterroot Valley 50 miles south of Missoula.

Home of the Blue Devils, we are a Class A school with about 400 students in the high school.

We feel very lucky to have been able to sing in person throughout the pandemic, and the students and I are excited to go beyond our school's doors and participate in festivals and events again.

We appreciate the opportunity to perform in "Celebrate America" 2022.

♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ I am a poor ♪ Wayfaring stranger ♪ I'm traveling through ♪ This world of woe ♪ Where there's no sickness ♪ Toil or danger ♪ In the bright land ♪ To which I go ♪ I'm going back ♪ To see my father ♪ I'm going back ♪ No more to roam ♪ I'm just a-going ♪ Over Jordan ♪ I'm just a-going ♪ Over home ♪ I'm going, I'm going home ♪ I know dark clouds ♪ Will gather round you ♪ Gather round ♪ I know my way ♪ I know my way ♪ Is rough and steep ♪ Rough and steep ♪ But beauteous fields ♪ Lie just beyond me ♪ God's souls redeemed ♪ Their vigil keep ♪ I'm going home ♪ To meet my mother ♪ She said she'd meet me ♪ When I come ♪ I'm just a-going ♪ Over Jordan ♪ I'm just a-going ♪ Over home ♪ I want to wear ♪ A crown of glory ♪ When I get home ♪ To that bright light ♪ I want to sing ♪ Salvation's story ♪ In concert with ♪ That blood-washed band ♪ I'm going there ♪ To see my Savior ♪ I'm going there to sing his praise ♪ ♪ Forevermore ♪ I'm just a-going ♪ Over Jordan ♪ I'm just a-going ♪ Over home ♪ I'm going home (gentle guitar music) - Thank you so much to the Chanteur Choir from Corvallis High School.

Big Sandy is home for our next choir under the direction of TJ Bond.

TJ, would you tell us a bit about your school?

- Absolutely.

We are the Big Sandy High School Choir.

Our home is south of the Highline near the Bear Paws Mountains.

Our Pioneers are always busy, not just in music, but in a variety of other activities, such as FFA, sports, afterschool clubs, and so much more.

Today, we want to share a song with you that definitely represents the struggles we have been facing these past years and the stresses they have brought on us.

We could not think of a better song to perform than this classic parlor song, "Hard Times Come Again No More."

We hope you enjoy.

(bright piano music) ♪ Let us pause in life's pleasures ♪ ♪ And count its many tears ♪ While we all sup sorrow with the poor ♪ ♪ There's a song that will linger ♪ ♪ Forever in our ears ♪ Oh, hard times, come again no more ♪ ♪ 'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary ♪ ♪ Hard times, hard times, come again no more ♪ ♪ Many days you have lingered around my cabin door ♪ ♪ Oh, hard times come again no more ♪ ♪ While we seek mirth and beauty ♪ ♪ And music light and gay ♪ There are frail forms fainting at the door ♪ ♪ Though their voices are silent ♪ ♪ Their pleading looks will say ♪ ♪ Oh, hard times, come again no more ♪ ♪ 'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary ♪ ♪ Hard times, hard times, come again no more ♪ ♪ Many days you have lingered around my cabin door ♪ ♪ Oh, hard times, come again no more ♪ ♪ There's a pale drooping maiden ♪ ♪ Who toils her life away ♪ With a worn heart whose better days are o'er ♪ ♪ Though her voice would be merry ♪ ♪ 'Tis sighing all the day ♪ Oh, hard times, come again no more ♪ ♪ 'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary ♪ ♪ Hard times, hard times, come again no more ♪ ♪ Many days you have lingered around my cabin door ♪ ♪ Oh, hard times, come again no more ♪ ♪ 'Tis a sigh that is wafted across the troubled wave ♪ ♪ 'Tis a wail that is heard upon the shore ♪ ♪ 'Tis a dirge that is murmured around the lowly grave ♪ ♪ Oh, hard times, come again no more ♪ ♪ 'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary ♪ ♪ Hard times, hard times, come again no more ♪ ♪ Many days you have lingered around my cabin door ♪ ♪ Oh, hard times, come again no more ♪ ♪ Oh, hard times ♪ Come again no more (gentle guitar music) - Thank you to the Big Sandy High School Choir.

Ronan, Montana is home to our next group.

A big welcome to them and their director, Brenna Hyvonen.

Brenna, would you tell us a bit about Ronan and about your school?

- Sure, we are the Ronan High School Choir, home of the Chiefs and Maidens.

Ronan is located in the beautiful Mission Valley on the Flathead Indian Reservation.

"Prayer of the Children" is a tribute to innocent young ones who are suffering all over the world.

This song speaks to us because Ronan choir students are filled with compassion for those in need, and they choose to be voices for love and peace in our community and beyond.

(gentle piano music) ♪ Can you hear ♪ The prayer of the children ♪ On bended knee ♪ In the shadow of an unknown room ♪ ♪ Empty eyes ♪ With no more tears to cry ♪ Turning heavenward ♪ Toward the light ♪ Crying who will help me ♪ To see the morning light ♪ Of one more day ♪ But if I should die before I wake ♪ ♪ I pray my soul to take ♪ Can you feel ♪ The hearts of the children ♪ Aching for home ♪ For something of their very own ♪ ♪ Reaching hands ♪ With nothing to hold on to ♪ But hope for a better day ♪ A better day ♪ Crying who will help me ♪ To feel the love again ♪ In my own land ♪ But if unknown roads lead away from home ♪ ♪ Give me loving arms ♪ Away from harm (singing in foreign language) ♪ Can you hear ♪ The voice of the children ♪ Softly pleading ♪ For silence in a shattered world ♪ ♪ Angry guns ♪ Preach a gospel full of hate ♪ Blood of the innocent ♪ On their hands ♪ Crying who will help me ♪ To feel the sun again ♪ Upon my face ♪ From when darkness clears I know you're near ♪ ♪ Bringing peace again (singing in foreign language) ♪ Can you hear ♪ The prayer of the children (gentle guitar music) Let's have one more round of applause for all the schools who have worked so hard to give us these great performances.

Thanks for joining us.

And thank you for supporting Montana PBS.

(mellow music) - [Announcer] "Celebrate America Across Montana with Tim Janis" is brought to you in part by Don and Marilyn Murdock, the Element Hotel, the Montana State University School of Music, the Friends of Montana PBS, and by viewers like you, thank you.