On Nov. 2, nine OHS students auditioned for the Missouri All-State Choir. After performing a vocal piece and sight reading new music for judges, Mackenzie Christopher (12), Ian Moore (12), Anna Rohr (12) and Margaret Schrader (12), left the audition qualified for the Missouri All-State Choir.
“My first reaction was definitely excitement and kind of shock. I didn’t think that I would make it in,” Schrader said.
Students say getting selected to perform All-State is a long and competitive process that starts earlier in the school year.
“They do their audition for All-Suburban Choir and then the top 20 scores in sight reading and solos get to move on to the All-State audition. Then the top four are chosen from each district to go to All-State…” choir director Emily Smith said.
Students are encouraged to practice their music and commit their songs to memory to increase their chances of acceptance.
“I have voice lessons every Monday. I only had two weeks to practice so I had to practice almost daily for some amount of time. I got to the point where I had it pretty much memorized,” Moore said.
The four selected students will soon travel to Lake of the Ozarks to rehearse their music with other students before it all comes together at a concert.
“I think I’m looking forward to meeting the people. I met a good amount of people at district choir but I’m really excited because you get to room with the people who are in the same voice part as you and plan your nights out. You just meet people from all around the state who enjoy the same things as you,” Schrader said.
OHS consistently sends prepared students to the Missouri All-State Choir almost every year.
“I think that the students who are selected for All-State are good at preparing and they have good preparation skills,” Smith said. “They have to have sight reading skills in general because that’s part of their score, practicing is an important skill that they have to have.”
Students are excited for the fast-paced, rigorous experience that Missouri All-State Choir provides to those who excel in learning and performing.
“I just thoroughly enjoy music and I like the learning experience. The music is much more difficult than what we do on a daily basis and you learn it pretty fast,” Schrader said. “It’s a unique experience, not something you get to do everyday.”
