To be in a TV studio with cameras panning around you during a vocal performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” was a unique experience for seven Bigfork High School choir members.

The student singers were in Montana Public Television’s Bozeman studio with composer, producer and performer Tim Janis in January to record two songs under the direction of Bigfork choir teacher Sky Thoreson.

Their performance was part of an annual “Celebrate America Across Montana” program that will feature choirs across the state.

In fall 2015, 13 high school choirs in Montana were selected to participate in the televised series and Thoreson said it was an opportunity not to be missed.

The Bigfork students were able to sing two songs during the recording session.

For students, the experience was exciting and a bit intimidating.

“Cameras were everywhere surrounding us and it was insane coming from a small town like Bigfork,” senior choir member Isaiah Stewart said. “It’s one of the best experiences I’ve ever had with choir.”

Janis gave tips to the choir for adjusting to performing in front of the camera, according to Stewart.

“He basically said, ‘Don’t even knowledge it. [With] a huge camera rotating around you, it’s kind of hard not to stare at it,” Stewart said with a laugh, noting that it required a few takes. “The people [TV crew] were cool.”

Even their instructor needed more than one take when he was asked to read from a teleprompter.

“I’ve never done anything like that,” Thoreson said. “This was a first for all of us.”

It was a long day for the choir, which didn’t have school that day. Thoreson said they left in the morning and didn’t get home until around 1:30 a.m.

“‘Celebrate America’ is a national program designed to give our nation’s youth a life-enhancing opportunity by showcasing their choirs on public television,” Janis said in a press release.

Janis has produced and supported numerous philanthropic projects with artists such as Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Ray Charles, Andre Previn and The New York Philharmonic.

Bigfork and Polson choirs will get some air time on Montana PBS stations at 7 p.m. March 7 and April 14. The program also will stream online at http://www.montanapbs.org/live.

Hilary Matheson is a reporter for The Daily Inter Lake. She may be reached at 758-4431 or [email protected].