On Jan. 7, 10 TCHS students competed at Area in order for a chance to be in the All-State Choir. At the end, five outstanding students made either All-State Women, Men or Mixed Choirs. Timber Creek High School accomplished an outstanding feat this year for having the most All-Staters in Keller ISD and having the third most All-Staters in the area.
Last year, Timber Creek claimed seven All-State spots, but this year it went down to five. This is due to realignment; the Keller ISD schools were merged into a new area.
“This round was really, really tough,” Caroline Norton, returning All-Stater exclaimed. “We were mixed in with all new competition including dozens of returning All-Staters so it was definitely daunting.”
Caroline explained that they were definitely a little shaken by the results because there were so many TC kids that 100% deserve to be All-State singers but just didn’t get there on Saturday. This included students like Aidan Barriga who made second alternate in the baritone room and Paisley Rasmussen who was an All-Stater last year.
According to Nam Nguyen, the cuts of music were all very long followed by challenging sight singing. The same repertoire was used from the third round so the participants didn’t need to learn new music, but the judges were more critical in order to weed out the competitors.
Each women’s voice part had ten spots available while eight places were attainable in the men’s voice parts. The top 4 made All-State Mixed Choir and the rest of the places made their respective gender choirs.
Nguyen said, “I’ve never been in the Men’s Choir. However, an All-State Choir is still an All-State Choir at the end of the day.”
Nguyen felt feeling of redemption this round because last year he was a returning All-Stater who did not make it. He is greatly appreciative that he was able to make it this year. The same phenomenon happened to Hannah Davis who made 2nd chair this year in the soprano two room.
Amanda Barber, a now returning All-State Mixed Choir member, could not believe it when she found out that she made it two years in a row.
“I was so shocked and just in awe,” Barber said. “I worked so so hard for this. Many tears were shed before yesterday.”
Reactions varied between tears of joy and surprised faces. Jan. 7 concluded the end of All-State for the 2016-2017 year. Even though Timber Creek claimed less spots than last year, this year gave members the boost that they will need for the years to come.
Norton said, “This All-State round was hard, but I know it will only push our department to come back even stronger and sing with even more passion next year.”
Congratulations to the students who succeeded on making the All State Choir!
Amanda Barber-All State Mixed Choir
Nam Nguyen-All State Men Choir
Jacob Rodriguez -All State Mixed Choir
Hannah Davis-All State Mixed Choir
Caroline Norton-All State Treble Choir
Aidan Barriga-Alternate