FARMINGTON – The Mount Blue Voices a cappella vocal ensemble from Mount Blue High School will present its annual spring concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, in Nordica Auditorium at the University of Maine at Farmington. Also on the program, making their concert debut, will be the 14 members of Mount Blue’s newest vocal group, Syncopation.

Syncopation is an all-girl group formed this school year by Mount Blue High School choral director Carol Shumway. The group will sing a wide variety of styles arranged for female voices. The group’s selections will include “Can You Hear,” a Brazilian folk song called “O Sapo,” American folk songs “Shenandoah” and “Johnny Has Gone For a Soldier,” the jazz standard “Mr. Sandman” and a recent country hit, “I Hope You Dance.”

Patricia Hayden is Syncopation’s piano accompanist. Jamie Dalrymple will join the group on string bass.

Mount Blue Voices director Dennis Hayes says this year’s ensemble has a great sound and features some very talented soloists.

This year, the ensemble has opened a Portland Pirates game with a stirring rendition of The Star Spangled Banner in front of 4,500 hockey fans in the Cumberland Civic Center. In early April, the singers traveled to Houlton where they placed third in the state Vocal Jazz Festival.

This month, the ensemble has a concert performance at the Maine Music Educators Association annual in-service conference at the University of Southern Maine and a concert in the state Capitol rotunda, followed by opening the legislative session with the national anthem.

This year’s repertoire includes Nat King Cole’s jazz classic “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” Sting’s “Fragile,” “Amazing Grace,” Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” and Aretha Franklin’s big hit “Respect.”

The concert is free, but donations will be accepted at the door.

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