A Capella went to Lincoln, Nebraska to sing at the state capital on March 27 and performed four songs. One song that was sung was composed by the Central accompanist Stephen Bouma titled “Always something sayings.” 

A Capella teacher Sara Cowan helped prepare students as much as she could before the performance. The morning of the visit they went to a clinic with Tom Trenny, a professor of music at Nebraska Wesleyan University, to work on some songs. “The visit increased expressivity, bring more energy and feeling to the song,” Cowan said.  

Senior Jocelyn Grima, sophomore Keaton Carver and junior Lilianna Perez Guzman all attended the event.  It was most students’ first time even going to the state capital building.  

All of them felt like they were prepared enough but were extremely nervous to be performing in such an important place. “I felt like I wasn’t prepared, but once we got there it felt really comforting and all my doubt went away,” Grima said.  

Many different languages were performed, and a common favorite was “Bogoroditse Devo,” which is a slavonic russian song composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff. “I thought the students did a fine job presenting that piece because the acoustic of the rotunda was visible,” Cowan said. Guzman agreed and commented that the extra work was needed but worth all the practice. “I really liked that one, it’s a lot of work but is really fun,” Guzman said.  

State senator Dunixi Guereca also went to go watch the CHS Singers perform, and it was very memorable for many. “It was really meaningful that he took the time to listen to our performance and congratulate us…felt good to be heard because we were there representing music in our school,” Cowan said.  

Many people were shocked that he was there, but very proud that they had such a supportive senator. “I was looking forward to seeing the senator,” Carver said.  

All the students joined A Capella for different reasons, but in the end, it connected many music lovers.  

“I joined junior choir and Ms. Cowan said, ‘You should join A Capella, it will be fun,’ so I joined, and it’s really fun,” Carver said.