On Tuesday, Sept. 16, choir students have an audition for the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA). This audition is a big opportunity for these students as they have the chance to make it to the state level in February by placing high enough in each round in order to advance through the competition. In order to prepare for their auditions, choir students have been working both in school and out of school to improve their performance.
The preparation process can look different for each musician, and while students receive guidance, it is up to the individual to determine which method will enable them to learn their songs to the best of their ability.
“So in the past I have gone to camp, but what I have done this upcoming year is just spend a lot of time listening,” Maya Richa, 12, said. “I think listening is very important to understand the kind of tone you want to go for and that’s how you can develop the basics.”
Attending camp at a nearby college is an opportunity available to choir students that allows them to attend a workshop and receive advice from professionals.
“I was able to go to UNT,” Cairo Lewis, 11, said. “They have an all-state choir camp, so you just go to learn through all the songs with college professors and different educators that teach in Texas.”
For a big competition like TMEA, choir students often put in work outside of class and outside of school to ensure that they can perform their pieces to the best of their ability.
“Now I’m in voice lessons to … [improve] my voice and making music with my friends and everyone else that’s a choir,” Lewis said. “The more you do something, the better you get.”
Regardless of the method a student chooses, getting ready for the auditions is not an easy process. In order to succeed, there are so many more variables to pay attention to outside of just learning the words of a song.
“You have to have a perfect balance between technicality and musicality and just really work hard to show that you want to be the best,” Richa said.
Each year, Emerson choir students have three different songs that they compete. These differ for students depending on the voice part they sing, but musicians must strive to connect with their songs one way or another.
“I really love Invitation to Love because it’s such a beautiful piece that I can emotionally connect to,” Richa said.
For students with a deep passion for singing, TMEA is much more than just a simple choir competition.
“It’s something that I want to pursue,” Lewis said. “I want to be a choir director now as my job, and my freshman year sparked my interest for music.”
For Lewis, TMEA is an opportunity to showcase his musical talents, build invaluable connections within the industry and grow his skills.
“Doing all these competitions pushes me out of my comfort zone, [so] I can be more comfortable,” Lewis said.
Since this competition is an annual event, most choir students have participated in it before and view this year as a chance to display and measure their progress from previous years.
“I was the first girl in all of Emerson history to make it to the area level my sophomore year,” Richa said. “Unfortunately I didn’t get to go that far my junior year because we do have setbacks and not everything is going to be perfect, but my hope is to make it far this year.”
Despite passion or skill, this competition demands hard work and every student faces challenges in their journey to improve their voice and prepare for TMEA.
“Sometimes you can lose motivation to want to practice…but then you have to remind yourself and ask the question: why do I sing and why do I do what I do?” Richa said. “That’s what helps me get back on track.”
