The members of the West Hartford’s Hall High School Choraliers have recorded a virtual performance of ‘The Road Home.’

By Ronni Newton

The voices of the Hall High School Choraliers joined together in perfect unison this week – although they were physically apart – as the award-winning choir released a moving version of their first virtual piece, a performance of Steven Paulus’ arrangement of “The Road Home.”

Images of West Hartford school buildings – beginning and ending with Hall – appear in the center of a grid showing the faces of the Choraliers. Seventeen of the 19 members submitted video and audio to be included in the final version, Choir Director Brett Boles said.

Boles used the same process as the director of Conard High School’s Solo Choir, Sam Eurich, used in the school’s virtual performance recording of “Unclouded Day.” Boles said he and Eurich had shared some ideas in advance, because both wanted to create the virtual performance recordings.

“The Road Home” was a piece the Choraliers had learned previously, and Boles said it was intended to be a fitting goodbye tribute to the senior members of the group. They ordinarily would have performed the song at their end of the year “Yurt-Aid” concert – a fundraiser for a bonding trip the Choraliers typically take in the fall, but that event has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Boles sent the students a “click track” to be used for their timing, as well as a silent track of him conducting.

The students submitted their video and audio to Boles, and he used Logic Pro to mix the audio files, and then synced the videos with the audio track through Final Cut Pro.

Boles said this is the first of three songs the Choraliers will record in this manner, and the next will include a special guest. They will also perform “Homeward Bound” (the Peter Hollens version) as a tribute to the graduating class of 2020.

“We needed to spread the joy through music,” Boles said.

As the voices tapered off, the screen reads, “Stay Well West Hartford.”

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