Eight MFMS students qualify for region choir, soprano gets top spot
The group of eight students who earn the right to perform as members of the TMEA All-Region Choir includes (in front) Kyle Hanshaw and Ben Anderson and (in back, from left) Shelby Miller, Taylor Wright, McKayla Campbell, Emily Moomaw, Alicia Marchand and Allie Packer.
By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula
Eight Marble Falls Middle School Choir students won recognition for their talents by being named to the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-Region Choir following tryouts this past weekend.
In all there were 21 MFMS singers who made the trip on Saturday, Oct. 25, to Cedar Park to audition amid a field of hundreds of other students in the region.
Making the final cut were: Allie Packer, 1st chair Soprano 1, 8th grade women's choir; Alicia Marchand, 2nd chair Soprano 1, 7th grade women's choir; Taylor Wright, 3rd chair Soprano 2, 8th grade women's choir; McKayla Campbell, 6th chair Soprano 1, 8th grade women's choir; Ben Anderson, 8th chair Tenor 1, 7th and 8th grade men's choir; Emily Moomaw, 13th chair Soprano 1, 7th grade women's choir; Shelby Miller, 15th chair Soprano 2, 7th grade women's choir; Kyle Hanshaw, 17th chair Bass, 7th and 8th grade men's choir.
They will be a part of the 90-girl and 60-boy group of recognized vocalists to perform the annual TMEA Regional Choir Concert on Nov. 8 at Klett Performing Arts Center in Georgetown.
“They were competing against some large districts, had to do a lot of work on their own, and had to be committed to coming in before and after school to practice,” said choir director Megan Goodman. “They also learned more difficult songs than they usually do in class.”
MFMS eighth-grader Abbie Packer got up at 5 a.m. to get to the competition, and she didn’t find out until 3 p.m. that she’d nailed the top spot—first chair soprano.
“I messed up on one word and I thought that would break me, but then my friend told me I’d won first chair and I just said, ‘Wow, oh my goodness',” she said.
She was able to handle the stress of being alone, behind a curtain, singing for five judges.
For the full story, see Friday's Highlander.
