Juniors Robert Hartfield and Hannah Smith participated in the State Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) Choir Conference from Feb. 21 through Feb. 23.
The conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center in Wichita. Thursday involved five hours of rehearsal followed by the “President’s Concert,” two hours of a barbershop quartet performance, which was provided as entertainment for all of the State music members. Friday consisted of seven hours total of practice time, and the actual concert was at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday.
“Everyone’s really focused – you’re there for State choir, a huge honor,” choral director Susan Scheibler said. “It was just packed, and the audience is so appreciative – they are on their feet like that after the last song. It’s just pretty rewarding for the kids.”
The members of both the district and State choirs were determined through auditions in November, although the State choir list was announced later because State members were required to participate in their own district choir. The musicians learned three songs beforehand and they were given cuts from each song the day of the blind auditions. The music was judged based on categories such as intonation and tone quality, while one-ninth of the total score was based on a separate sight-singing section.
“It was my first time auditioning, so I kind of knew what to expect, but not really,” Smith said. “It was probably one of the most stressful auditions I have ever been to. It was overwhelming, but it was really worth it.”
The results for the State choir were posted in early December, and 256 total students were admitted.
“I was glad that I could brag that I was within the top 32 baritones in the state, [but] I was less excited about myself than I was for Hannah,” Hartfield said. “The only reason I deserved to get into KMEA was because I have a good voice. Hannah had been working since day one.”
This year, the members of the State choir were required to learn three new pieces of music on their own before the conference. The concert at the end of the three days is the only time the choir performs as a whole.
“It was one of the most exhausting things I’ve done, and one of the greatest things I’ve done,” Hartfield said. “Although it was completely physically and mentally exhausting, there is no question that it was completely worth it.”