BIDDEFORD — Choral students in Biddeford had the rare opportunity to work with a world-renowned composer and debut one of his songs at a concert.

Biddeford High School Vocal Music Director Christopher Ferrell met choral composer Sydney Guillaume at the 2018 Maine Music Educators Association All-State SATB Choir, which Guillaume was conducting.

Ferrell said his students had performed Guillaume’s pieces in the past, and he asked Guillaume if he would be interested in composing an original piece for the high school students to perform. Guillaume agreed and funding was secured for him to come to Biddeford to work with students during a week-long residency.

Guillaume studied music in his native country of Haiti and now lives in Portland, Oregon. He traveled to Biddeford to work with both middle school and high school choruses this week in preparation for a concert performed on Thursday night at Biddeford Middle School’s Performing Arts Center.

One of the songs the high school chorus learned was “Rise Up,” an original song with lyrics written by Guillaume’s father, Gabriel, and inspired by Biddeford’s motto, “A Proud City Rising Where the Water Falls.”

The song is about persevering after making a mistake and instead of looking back, looking forward and trying again.

“Life is full of difficult times, but you have to try again,” said Guillaume.

The students learned the song in English, Hatian Creole and French.

Ferrell said the students have enjoyed working with Guillaume.

“They’ve been through the roof,” he said.

Though the middle school chorus members did not work on the original piece, they worked with Guillaume on performing some of his other pieces.

“It’s possibly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them,” said Biddeford Middle School teacher Tammy Carusone. “It’s been fun working with him. He’s a nice person, and he’s good with the kids.”

Eighth-grader Mackenzie Parent said in working with Guillaume they learned the process of song composition from start to finish.

“It came together as one big, bold, beautiful song,” she said. Fellow eighth-graders Mckenna Peaslee and Jenna Johnson said Guillaume focused on each individual student and how they could best contribute to the song as a whole.

Mackenzie agreed.

“He really broke it down so we all sounded great,” she said.

It was interesting to get the point of view of the composer of the song and not just relying on one’s own interpretation of the piece, Mckenna said.

Guillaume said he uses his music as a platform for positivity. He said he enjoys working with young people, and though his role is to inspire students, the students always inspire him.

“As a composer, it’s always amazing to me to see how music comes to life,” he said. Every group approaches a song differently, Guillaume said, “They make it their own.”

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.