Only the top 3 percent of singers will make it. Only the best in the state. Only the best…
More than 55,000 students from all school classifcation sizes competed in the Texas Music Educators Association All-State process and last week the final few auditioned for a spot in the TMEA All-State Choir, which includes 1A through 5A students together. After pushing through all-district, region, pre-area and area, three members of Canyon High Chorale made it through to All-State Choir. Senior Rachel Smith placed 10th in Alto 2, senior Marissa Hernandez placed 10th in soprano 2, and sophomore Bailey DeBerry placed 10th in soprano 1.
“I felt incredibly honored when my name was announced,” Smith said. “I am grateful for my directors and voice teacher who helped me get to this point and all the encouragement from my friends and family. I give all the glory to God.”
In each audition, individual musicians perform selected music for a panel of judges who rank each voice part and a sight reading selection, where participants sing music they have never seen before.
“Sight reading is not my forte,” Hernandez said.” So, the hardest part was pushing myself to sight read every night. It’s an honor to be in All-State and it’s nice to know that others appreciate my passion.”
The All-State Choir will perform in Austin Feb. 12-16. These All-State students participate in three days of rehearsals directed by nationally recognized conductors during the annual state TMEA Clinic/Convention.
“It’s great to be able to be a part of it again this year,” Hernandez said. “It means so much to me to be around the people who share my passion.”
Their final performance will be before thousands of attendees bringing this extraordinary event to a close.
“It’s an honor to know that my hard work finally paid off,” DeBerry said. “And when you work really hard for something, and if you put your heart into it, it can happen.”
