Choir students to perform All-Region Concert Nov. 5

Jaren Tankersley, Co-Editor in Chief|November 4, 2016

Jaren Tankersley

Choir members practice their Pre-Area audition during activity period.

Amarillo High School will host the All-Region choir concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5. The free concert will feature the students who qualified at the All-Region auditions, including 24 Canyon High students.

All-Region auditions are the second competition of four before the state concert, with All-District before and Pre-Area and Area auditions to follow. Students who place high enough at the Area audition will perform with the All-State Choir in San Antonio in February.

“It is kind of a cool thing to make region,” choir director Brandon Farren said. “You make district, you move on. You make pre-area, you move on. You make region, you get to perform.”

An eight-hour clinic will precede the concert. During the clinic, choir members will rehearse their music with Michigan University Associate Director of Choral Activities Dr. Jonathan Reed.

“All day you work with a clinician,” junior Claire Horn said. “It is really exciting going and learning different techniques and different ways to sing the pieces you’ve been singing for months now.”

Horn took first chair in the alto II section, and juniors Mitchell Hernandez and Josiah Dye also took first chair in the tenor II and bass II section, respectively.

“This time I was really frantic about it, because I am expected to maintain my chair,” Horn said. “I was stressing out about it, but I pulled through and did my best.”

Despite the pressures of the All-Region auditions, sophomore Tori Ross, who took second chair in the soprano I section, said she enjoyed the process.

“It is super nerve-wracking, but it is still interesting, and it is still fun,” sophomore Tori Ross said. “It is definitely a lot easier going with your choir family and having your friends there supporting you.”

Farren said any person will appreciate the concert whether they are familiar with choral music or not.

“You will be blown away about the level of musicality and what a group of young people can do,” Farren said. “You see this group of kids and then it is just this glorious, beautiful music being poured out.”