First, those auditioning sang a solo to three judges in a blind audition, where judges kept their backs turned to students so they would only hear music and not recognize the students. This was worth 75 points in the audition.
Then, students went into another room where they identified key signatures based on the number of sharp and flat notes, which was worth four points. Following this, those auditioning had to sight-sing melodic and harmonic music. The melodic sight-singing required students to sing given notes with no piano accompaniment, while the harmonic sight-singing required students to find their part in a chord while three other parts are played in accompaniment.
“I think my solo went well, and in the sight reading room I got the keys and rhythms even if the pitch was a little off,” senior Rebecca Burke-Agüero said, “but all the Rock Bridge people were a little iffy about that, so it was fine.”
The sight singing was worth 20 points altogether. Students are graded on a 4 point scale for admission into the district choir, which is a hybrid of an actual choir and a position. This year, district choir members will go to Hickman on Nov. 3 and learn songs during the day before performing the songs with the entire choir for parents that afternoon. District choir is also the first step toward joining the all-state choir.
“I was a part of the all-state choir last year, which I was very lucky to be a part of … Last year they had the MMEA convention in Tan-Tar-A resorts, and basically, we got some of the top singers in the state of Missouri all together for a 200 person massive choir, and we were instructed by the president of the American Choral Directors Association,” senior Ian Meyer said. “They expect you’re coming in not to learn the music, but to perfect the music … it’s really a great process to really dive deep into the music and dig up all these little historical things about the music and all these different phrasing and diction, just all these ways to make these songs really shine.”
After the auditions, the judges send their notes and sheets to the choir teachers of those who performed, so students can receive feedback on their performance. Students will receive the forms when they next see their choir teachers. The list of those who made it into district choir is pictured above.
“They’re not only judging you on how you sound, but also [on] what you know and how well you can [sing],” Meyer said. “It’s really all aspects of music: the intellectual side, the emotional side, the physical side and I really think district choir is a good way to encourage people to improve themselves and raise the standard of the arts in our district.”
By Atreyo Ghosh
Did you try out for district choir? How did your auditions go? Tell us below!
