Big Voice

Jeffe Huls directs the choral arts program at Santa Monica High School, CA, with dedication both to music and the teenagers he trains. Auditioning talented juniors who aim to enter the advanced chamber singers and madrigal ensemble, Huls is shown to be serious about channeling talent into musicianship. He instituted a 48-hour fall camping retreat for these elite groups as a musical team-building exercise. We hear student responses to Huls's insistence on discipline as well as how Huls himself feels about working with kids who are stressed by academics, or must cope with personal crises such as homelessness. Filmmaker Bar-Kar's editing matches the choirmaster's meticulous attention to detail. In the end, everyone here thrives in a climate of serious fun, even when perfection remains elusive. With an abundance of bonus material.