FAYETTEVILLE — Calling all ye lords and ladies. Take a step back in time to join Fayetteville High School's Choral Department at the annual Madrigal Feast.
It’s become a holiday tradition at the high school.
The parish hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will be transformed to a medieval English castle, complete with food and drink, music and levity, to recreate a holiday feast, dating to the Middle Ages.
The Madrigal Feast is a re-enactment of an old English Christmas season celebration. The school's Encore ensemble, dressed as lords and ladies, entertain with dancing, ballads and songs.
The event is scheduled Dec. 12-14.
Dawnelle Fincher, choral director, said this year’s production will be the ninth since it was suggested by former Superintendent Bobby New. A similar program is done at Conway High School, she said.
“It took three years to get our feet on the ground,” she said. Parents of choir members do much of the work behind the scenes, including fixing the meal served each night and decorating the hall.
The royal court is made of the 22 Encore members. The Court Jester, who serves as the narrator, is done by Asa Timms, a former student enrolled at the University of Arkansas. Other choir members serve as the peasants who serve the meal.
Auditions for the solo and ensemble parts are held in May. The students sing 20 musical pieces.
The music ranges from contemporary to the Oxford Book of Carols.
Rehearsals began in August, Fincher said. For the first time, this summer the students held a lock-in at the school where they sang most of the night and the following morning to learn the songs.
Students agree the production is work but also fun.
Logan Dallas, a 17-year-old senior performing her second year with Encore, said, “I enjoy singing and performing and spending time with people who are like family.”
Mary McWha, also 17 and a senior, said, “It’s really special to be in the Feast and to be at the head table. I’m looking forward to it.”
Fincher said the students practice about 40 hours with her and spend many more hours independently practicing with CDs.
“The first couple of years we learned what not to do. Now everything is so refined,” she said.
The students agree Encore is time-consuming but Dallas said, “If it’s what you want to do, you make it a priority.”
“What a gift the music is,” Fincher said. “The message and the singing can be overwhelming.”
Kyle Jung, 16 and a senior, said being a member of Encore has allowed him to form stronger bonds of friendship with fellow members.
“I like Renaissance music and enjoy singing it,” he said. “I have found a love for singing.”