The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Minnesingers are in rehearsal mode for a very busy spring performance season. On April 4, they will participate in the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors’ Association festival at Algonquin Regional High School. Competing against set performance standards, they will be judged in several categories including tone quality, balance and blend, expression, rhythmic and intonation precision, and style. This is their first trip to a MICCA festival in 10 years. They will be singing three selections — Quem Vidistis, a 20th century piece in Latin, a Hebrew Renaissance motet, and Five Nursery Rhymes, will participate in a clinic with the judges, and will have the opportunity to hear several other choirs.

By invitation of Dr. Tim Shetler (the All Island Choral Festival clinician in 2006 and 2007), the Minnesingers will be singing with the Eastern Nazarene College A Cappella Choir and Chamber Singers at Jordan Hall in Boston on April 19. In addition to performing repertoire from the MICCA festival, they will be singing one selection with Dr. Shetler’s groups, Go Where I Send Thee, a spiritual in authentic African-American folk tradition, and listening to selections performed by the Eastern Nazarene College choral groups.

On May 9 and 10 in the Performing Arts Center, the Minnesingers will present their annual spring shows, which incorporate both choral music and choreography. The theme of the dance show this year celebrates regional high school’s 50th graduating class with a medley of popular music from the 1950s through the ’90s, as well as student selections from the music they remember as they were growing up. Members of the Jazz Band will be providing much of the accompaniment. Look for further information regarding times and ticket prices in a future Gazette.