Give her regards to Broadway: SHS student auditions with musical theatre hits

While some of us may be wrapping holiday gifts, SHS senior Anisley Bartone is wrapping up a big week of rehearsals and auditions, culminating with the New England Music Festival Association tryouts at Hartford High School on Dec. 2.

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Give her regards to Broadway: SHS student auditions with musical theatre hits BY KAREN ENGDAHL, The Shopper December 4, 2017 musical Student musical performer, Ainsley Bartone. Photo by J. Chlebak. SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – While some of us may be wrapping holiday gifts, SHS senior Anisley Bartone is wrapping up a big week of rehearsals and auditions, culminating with the New England Music Festival Association tryouts at Hartford High School on Dec. 2. Bartone, an alto, chose “A Quiet Thing” from the musical “Flora the Red Menace” to sing for her NEMFA audition. “It’s a song about how happiness comes quietly, not necessarily with all the fanfare you might expect,” she said. Working with SHS music teacher Jim Chlebak, she focused on matching emotions and gestures to the words and music. “Performance is so much more than just being able to sing,” she said, “and that’s part of the reason I love it.” A dancer from the age of three, Bartone remembers clearly when she first decided to seriously study voice. “I went to Broadway when I was in seventh grade,” she recalled, “We saw the play ’Newsies’ and from that moment I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I fell in love with musical theatre and I knew I had to learn to sing!” Since then, Bartone has continued to study dance and has worked on developing her vocal skills. She has been in the casts of many school and community choral and drama productions over the years and has lately started an internship with the Weston Playhouse. “I just love that connection with the audience,” she says. “I hope I make the NEMFA chorus. I would really like to work with a big group of people like me – people who love music and performance as much as I do.” NEMFA is a capstone high school musical event throughout the region. Students and their music teachers start preparations months before the auditions by examining a solo list to find a selection that fits the performing ability of the student. Then the process of practicing and preparing the selection starts, leading to the regional auditions. When completed, the students’ performance ratings are used to select the highest achievers to form a wind ensemble, orchestra, and concert chorus. These students are sent their music and spend hours preparing for the advent of rehearsals. Each year a different community in the six New England states hosts the festival, housing students in local homes, and providing space and an environment that is conducive to quality music making. Conductors of national and international stature are contracted to lead these students in rehearsal and in the two festival performances. The result is a high level of music making and a musical experience that will last a lifetime. Bartone has also prepared recordings for several college admission auditions this week, again choosing repertoire from musical theatre, specifically “Pushed” from “The Addams Family” and “As Long As He Needs Me” from “Oliver!” Topping off the busy week, she will dance in a production of “Clara’s Cracked Christmas” at the Claremont Opera House on Dec. 2 and 3. “This is what I want to do!” she beams. “It’s the best feeling in the world!” With her strong work ethic, curiosity, and musical talent it’s clear we will soon see her name in lights.