Each song was different, not knowing what snippet the judges would ask to be performed. Each song needed to be perfect, every note portraying the hidden meaning. Each song had been practiced for months, it was a matter of execution. Stepping into the audition room, hidden behind the curtains, held the judges. The ones who would decide whether the competitor would advance to the next stage of the process, or that would be the end of the journey that year. Limited spots are open.
Senior Trace Thomas is the first person in the school’s history to make the All-State Choir all four years and plans to make the music industry his future career. Singing in Baritone each year, changing from small school audition to large school sophomore year… Only 2.6% of musicians who audition make it to the all-state level, and even fewer make it all four years.
“Trace has grown so much from his freshman year to where he is now,” choir director Brandon Farren said. “Not only in his musical abilities but his leadership skills and courage to step out as well.”
Everyone auditioning was trying their hardest. They wanted to be their best. They wanted to be the ones to make it to compete at the state level, and they wanted the best possible outcome. But they also wanted to watch their choir family make those accomplishments.
“I had the support of everyone around me, especially everyone doing the process with me,” Thomas said. “I was competing against friends, but that helped us, that strengthened our bond together. We would work so hard together, to be ready for the auditions.”
Ever since Thomas was a little kid, he has been interested in music.
“I started choir in fourth grade, I did the little Broadway kids thing in elementary school and liked it,” Thomas said. “That’s kind of what started it all. I didn’t realize that this was something that I wanted to pursue until later. It was more of just a hobby that I had.”
It was something he did for fun, something he enjoyed, something that always pulled him in. Now, Thomas plans to attend college to study music, making it a part of his life forever.
“It started as a hobby and then I realized, maybe there’s more to this,” Thomas said. “I realized that this was something that I was good at, something that I enjoyed doing, and something that I could see myself doing a lot.”
Music is an art form, and with every type of art, there is a hidden meaning behind it, a story. Was the song written to be sung to a loved one? To express their feelings? To share their struggles? To motivate others? Or perhaps to entertain? Finding that hidden meaning is the key to Thomas’s success.
“I like to think of each song as different journeys leading to the same destination,” Thomas said. “The destination is to express importance. Whether the song is spiritual or something simple like water, all songs have a meaning that can be interpreted differently for everyone. I believe this is why music is so special as well.”
The audition process is a matter of mindset, important to remember the reason Thomas is competing. To remember the meaning behind is song, how music has affected his life, and why he continues to do it.
“Going into the audition I usually keep calm,” Thomas said. “It helps to remember that I am doing something that I love. At the end of the day, art is art, and each piece means something different to everyone, leading to many interpretations for judges to sift through. I am always grateful to be invited to the State level, the experience is always so rewarding for the long amount of work everyone puts in.”
