After placing at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-Region audition, a record 43 choir students will compete at the pre-area audition at Amarillo College Dec. 7. Students who place in the top at this meet will audition at the state audition Jan. 12.

The auditions include two sections, sight reading a short, random portion of music, and performing cuts from the selected pieces of music for that audition. Students do not know what portion of the music they will be asked to sing before the audition but can practice the entire piece beforehand.

“The kids love to be able to push themselves a little bit,” head choir director Brandon Farren said. “It forces you to really start to work on your practice habits outside of school because we don’t cover anything in class. It teaches you how to be an independent music learner without having a director spoon-feed you.”

Junior Jolie Mullins, who placed fourth chair small school soprano, said the competition is enjoyable despite the stress which accompanies it.

“It’s a fun day,” Mullins said. “All the work leading up to it is super hard, but once you get there you get to hang out with everyone, they call your number, and you go sing. You’re super scared and nervous, but you go sing, then spend the rest of the day talking about what you did wrong and what you could’ve done better.”

Farren said those just beginning high school choir often experience great growth from the audition process.

“It’s amazing to watch these freshmen come up from junior high, and it’s so much more intense than anything they’ve done before,” Farren said. “They come in very shy and apprehensive about the whole thing, and by they time you get done with region and pre-area, they’re so much more confident and willing to step out because they find their voice, which is what I really love to see.”

Mullins said she attributes a portion of her success to the voice lessons she chose to take in preparation for the competition.

“I started taking voice lessons just this year to help with the all-state process, and that has been the biggest factor in it,” Mullins said. “It’s that one-on-one time you don’t get as a group in the choir, and you can take time to focus on your voice. I found a whole new way to sing, and it made me a better musician altogether.”

Farren said although choir may be an activity to perform in one’s downtime, it is not simply a hobby but also an academic medium for its members.

“I think some people think choir is a fun hobby and they’re right–it’s a great release from the business of every day, but it’s incredibly academic challenging,” Farren said. “It’s not just a hobby we do here, but it’s a life-changing event that is educationally sound and valid. I’m not sure everybody understands that.”