Most high schools, depending on how advanced the arts program is, offer Madrigals for many choir students. Historically, a Madrigal is the name of a musical genre for voices set mostly in secular poetry during the 14th, 16th, and early 17th centuries. In the modern world, Madrigals are mainly held by schools. They often include a Madrigal feast as a Renaissance dinner theater in schools or churches during the Christmas season.
Here, Ballard High School offers a phenomenal Madrigal group. Kelsi Edelen is the choir teacher at Ballard and the sponsor for Ballard’s Madrigals program. She’s been running it for about 2 years now and has done a incredible job.
Madrigal dinners are an important event for the singers. It’s a dinner where the Madrigals sing while family and friends come and watch the talented singers while enjoying a nice meal. This year, Madrigal dinners are from Dec 4th-7th at St. Mathews Episcopal Church starting at 6:30 PM every night. Besides the Madrigal dinners, they also offer community gigs where they sing at schools, churches, and businesses, all open to the public except for business occasions.
If you are interested in joining Madrigals, the requirements are to already be a member in the school’s choir and to audition for Madrigals the week after spring break every year. For auditions, students need to choose and learn a song to sing for the audition as well as sight-read a piece, making it a two-day audition. This is Ballard Madrigals’ 43rd season since its debut in 1981, and the community support helps keep the flame going along as Madrigal alumni, families, and the Louisville community in general comes together to see performances.
If you are interested and have questions, visit Ms. Edelen’s room in the upstairs east building next to the band room and speak to her about your questions for Madrigals or anything music related!
