by Taylor Massey
The Republic High School Choir has already had a successful start to the school year at All-District Choir auditions. Across all grades, 29 students were chosen to be members of the All-District Honor Choir. Four juniors and one senior made the top 25 in their section at auditions.
Junior Rebecca Roe and senior Halli Webb were two of the students who made the cut for top 25 in their section. In addition to their success at auditions, this accomplishment will give them more opportunities in the choir as the school year goes by. All students who were chosen for the All-District Honor Choir, regardless of their placement, will be performing in a concert on November 6 to celebrate their achievement. This concert will feature other talented students from Southwest Missouri.
The five students who made the top 25 will also audition for All-State Honor Choir. Becoming a member of this choir is the highest honor a high school singer can receive.
“I think All-State auditions will probably be a little more stressful, but it’s a huge honor. At least there’s no more sight reading!” said Roe.
However, for many students like Roe and Webb, choir is much more than the recognition they receive. Roe is only in her second year with the choir and has found the atmosphere to be incredibly rewarding.
“I love to sing and I love that we are all like a family! Choir is honestly so much fun and we encourage each other relentlessly. It’s also opened up a lot of opportunities for me. I’m most likely going to attend Missouri State for music education after I graduate, which is an opportunity I never thought I’d have,” said Roe.
Webb was involved in the Republic Middle School Choir for three years and has been in the RHS Choir for all four years of high school. She said being in choir for so many years has been an interesting way to track her progress.
“I joined choir in sixth grade and it really just stuck with me. I like seeing how far I’ve come over the years because it’s been a really long journey becoming comfortable as a soloist.”
Before All-State Choir auditions in January, you can catch Roe and Webb in the Tiger Theatre’s production of Legally Blonde when it shows from November 18-21.