MONTAGUE – Scott Emelander has known for a while about the musical talents and chemistry that Ella King and Delaney Schultz possess and share.
“Ella King and Delaney Schultz are so talented. They both have a natural musical aptitude and yet are constantly working to improve their abilities and knowledge of vocal and instrumental music. They are very comfortable on stage and perform well together,” said Emelander, who is choir director for Montague High School and Nellie B. Chisholm Middle School.
On March 21 during the West Michigan Student Showcase at the Frauenthal Theater in downtown Muskegon, several others witnessed and listened for themselves. They learned what Emelander already knew.
King and Schultz delivered an impressive duet performance and rendition of “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals and “Amazing Grace” by John Newton.
Courtesy of Montague High School
The recent graduates were among 41 Montague High School students enrolled in Concert Choir during the 2023-24 school year. Emelander, who is in his third year with Montague Area Public Schools and in his 14th year teaching choir, said that his class is open to anyone regardless of previous musical background or experience.
“I believe choir is a place for everyone,” Emelander said. “Choir allows students to find a place of belonging, grow as a musician and person, and be challenged academically and vocally. We create wonderful music and everyone is a valuable part of that process.”
One of the end products can be a performance such as the one delivered by King and Schultz at Showcase.
The anticipation of the performance was exciting enough, but once they got on stage and did their thing, it created for memories they’ll never forget.
Both consider it their proudest achievement via choir.
“(Showcase) was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and such a blessing to be a part of,” said King, whom Emelander lauds for hearing and finding vocal harmonies and being a natural leader in choir class. “It was so cool to listen and watch everyone perform. Having the opportunity to perform was so amazing and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Safe to say, Schultz was equally as excited about performing at Showcase. It was a highly anticipated moment for Schultz, whom Emelander notes has grown immensely as a vocalist, guitarist, and pianist.
In addition to their musical talents, Schultz and King have been very good students and were involved in a lot of other activities. Schultz, 18, the daughter of Beth and Darren Schultz, carried a 4.126 GPA. King, 17, the daughter of Melissa and Eric King, held a 3.68 GPA.
Emelander said that Schultz and King have been good friends for a long time, which lends to great chemistry as singers on stage together.
“In my opinion, the reason they work so well together is because they are both so mature, kind, and well intentioned. They are not trying to outperform the other and they don’t have egos that get in the way of making great music,” Emelander said.
“This, combined with their unique personalities and thought processes make their work together as performers special. They push each other to strive for more and use the resources available to them to improve, always wanting to put out a great piece of music.”
While King and Schultz have been shining examples in Emelander’s choir class, he is proud of the music and growth exhibited by all students.
Courtesy of Montague High School
Emelander said that each day is a highlight in and of itself, but other big moments that come to mind are concerts and performances, including:
- Halloween concert where students dress up in costumes and sing spooky songs;
- Christmas concert, where students send concert-goers into the holiday season filled with music and song;
- MSVMA Choral Festival, where Montague’s choir scored a Division 1 rating;
- Spring concert titled “Broadway and Beyond,” where the choir featured a medley from “Les Miserables” and had a couple of numbers with choreography.
“One of my biggest inspirations through my music journey has been Mr. Emelander,” Schultz said. “He has set aside so much of his time to help me as a singer and guitarist. He has encouraged me and pushed me in ways that I have never experienced before. He helped me find my true musical identity.
“Alongside having his support, my parents are always encouraging me as well. They have been to every performance and have provided me with countless resources to better myself.”
King said she is inspired by her family members and how hard they work. They’ve encouraged her to live life doing her absolute best in everything. They’ve also encouraged her to try new things and be OK with failing.
King and Schultz both plan to continue singing and performing to varying degrees. They want to see where it might take them.
“Singing is an outlet for me, as is music in general. It is something I am passionate about and truly enjoy doing,” said Schultz, who plans to be on her college’s worship team and will continue seeking out opportunities to perform with open mics or even securing some gigs in the future.
“Singing is the way I connect with my emotions. It helps me get in touch with the things that words can’t describe and creates a way for me to escape from the world,” said King, who plans to attend Muskegon Community College and looks to continue singing at church. “I am able to express things through singing that I couldn’t if I used words.”
