Canta Sera Chamber Singers from Potsdam High School performed at the 2011 New York Conference of the American Choral Directors Association in Rochester on Oct. 22.

The choir was one of five high school choral ensembles from across the state invited to perform in Linehan Chapel at Nazareth College for the prestigious event.

The four other choirs were from Lancaster High School and Niagara-Wheatfield High School in the Buffalo area, Glen Cove High School on Long Island, and Shenendehowa High School in the Capital District.

Tammara Madeja, conductor of Canta Sera, spoke glowingly of her students’ performance. “ACDA is the most prestigious choral organization in America. It was indeed an honor for Potsdam to be selected to perform along with some of the real powerhouse high school choral programs in the state and to perform for such an elite group of university, college, and high school choral music teachers. Canta Sera sang so beautifully and performed so professionally; I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Canta Sera Chamber Singers is the premier vocal ensemble at Potsdam High School. The choir has consistently been awarded Level Six Gold and Gold with Distinction at New York State School Music Association Major Organization Festivals. Notable performances by Canta Sera include conferences of the New York State Board of Regents and the New York State School Boards Association as well as collaborative performances of the Beethoven “Choral Fantasie,” Haydn “Te Deum,” and Handel “Messiah” with The Orchestra of Northern New York under the direction of Kenneth Andrews.

The choir presented a diverse program of significant choral literature including “My Spirit Sang All Day” by Gerald Finzi, “I Love My Love” by Gustav Holst, “Sing Me to Heaven” by Daniel Gawthrop, “If Music Be the Food of Love” by David Dickau, and a Moses Hogan arrangement of the spiritual “Elijah Rock.” Carol Strome was piano accompanist for the event.

Madeja has been the choral director at Potsdam High School for the past 20 years. She is a certified NYSSMA All-State voice adjudicator and has conducted All-County and Area All-State honor choirs throughout New York. From 2004 to 2010, she served on the NYSSMA Executive Council as a zone representative. Currently, she serves as President of the St. Lawrence County Music Educators Association and is Voice Chair for the NYSSMA state music conference.

Canta Sera Chamber Singers will perform in Potsdam on Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Potsdam High School Auditorium.