The Mount St. Mary Academy Concert Belles received one of the highest overall scores among all small ensembles at the Arkansas Choral Directors Association’s 2025 State Festival in Conway April 10, which tied them for first place in the state in their size classification.
Additionally, the group earned another Division I – Superior plaque and honors for 6A Best Overall Ensemble and 6A Best in Class Treble Small Ensemble.
Marcia McConkie, first-year choral director at MSM. “From the very beginning, I was impressed by the knowledge, talent and strong work ethic these students brought to the table. Because of that, I was able to really focus this year on refining musicianship — working on tuning, blend, balance and the overall artistry of our performance. I challenged them with complex and meaningful repertoire, and they surpassed my expectations.”
The Concert Belles qualified for the event by receiving top ratings at the region’s annual Choral Performance Assessment in March.
The Concert Belles will hold its annual spring concert at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 29, in McDonald Hall at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock. Admission is free and open to the public.
