The Mount St. Mary Academy Concert Belles received some of the highest scores of all performers at the Arkansas Choral Director Association’s 2022 State Festival in Bryant on Wednesday, April 6, which earned the choral ensemble another Division I – Superior plaque to add to their wall of awards.
The highest score possible at the event is 100. According to MSM Choral Director Chelsea Allman, the Concert Belles received two 95s and a 98 from this year’s judges. “I am so proud of our young musicians,” Mrs. Allman said. “They sang advanced repertoire and rehearsed for months to make their songs as perfect as possible.”
This year’s event included 125 of Arkansas’ most talented choirs. To receive a Division I – Superior rating at the State Festival represents “the finest possible performance for the event…worthy of the distinction of being recognized as among the very best,” according to the ArkCDA’s website.
The Concert Belles qualified for the statewide event by receiving all Division I – Superior ratings at their annual Choral Performance Assessment earlier in March. Additionally, the four-member Harmony Belles, another choral ensemble at Mount St. Mary Academy, received a Division II – Excellent rating at the Choral Performance Assessment.
“To have received a Division II – Excellent rating at CPA is a great accomplishment, especially considering there are only four Harmony Belles this year and most of them have little to no choir experience,” Mrs. Allman said. “They were wonderful!”
Congratulations to Mrs. Allman and our 2021-2022 choral ensembles:
Concert Belles: Gabriella Angtuaco ’23, Ella Burdine ’24, Kylie Byrne ’25, Olivia Cordell ’22, Layne Edwards ’23, Vivian Fischer ’23, Maya Johnson ’25, Gracie Limmer ’22, Aubree McCullough ’24, Belle Mentgen ’23, Grace Moody ’24, Kathryn Morris ’23, Mari Negrete ’22, Isabella Nguyen ’25, Grey Parrish ’23, Sophia Parrish ’22, Elizabeth Pellicciotti ’22, Clara Principe ’24, Anya Ratycz ’23, Camilla Ricaurte ’22 and Natalie Vailes ’22
Harmony Belles: Bella Angtuaco ’25, Rhea Fitts ’25, Elvira Huerta ’25 and Sarah Siria ’25
Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion and integrity.