All-East and All-State Honor Choirs are choirs with people from various regions of Tennessee who come together to make music. Rachel Shope (11) had the opportunity to participate in both choirs last year due to her impressive audition score. Shope recounts her experience on the All-East and All-State honor choir trips.
“I loved getting to be around a bunch of people who were…passionate about music…I got a lot of instruction that I wouldn’t normally get from Mr. Cross or anyone that I’m naturally just exposed to,” Shope said.
At honor choirs, students come together to learn a few pieces of music under an experienced director. Spots for each choir are limited, so each student must be fully prepared to participate in a pre-choir audition. The students will sing two songs for a panel of judges, and then they will sight-read a few measures of music. Lots of preparation and practice goes into this audition. While most students will focus on learning their notes and rhythms, students like Shope who go above and beyond will practice dynamics and musicality.
“This year, I started [practicing] a lot earlier than I did last year, and I focused more on my dynamics and like the way that I sing things rather than what I’m singing,” Shope said.
Depending on the student’s performance of prepared music and sight reading, they will receive a score out of 300 points, which determines their spot in the All-East and All-State choirs. Shope was thrilled with her score increase from last year to this year.
“I did not even process it to be honest. I was just kind of in shock for a couple days. Last year [my score] was 256 and this year it was 290,” Shope said.
With a near-perfect score, it is clear Shope’s talent and work ethic has paid off. She is looking forward to her experiences again this year in the honor choir programs.
