Liberty, Discovery vocalists accepted in Alabama All-State Choir

Liberty students in the Alabama All-State Choir are Matthew Bao, front, and Chloe Cochran, back from left, Meredith Williams and Natalie Farmer. (CONTRIBUTED)

Discovery students in the Alabama All-State Choir are Suzie Glover, from left, Casey Kula, JoAnne Stevens and Anna Kate Massengale. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Vocalists from Liberty and Discovery Middle schools have been accepted in the 2013-2014 Alabama All-State Choir.

From Liberty, eighth-grader Matthew Bao and seventh-graders Chloe Cochran, Natalie Farmer and Meredith Williams earned seats. From Discovery, seventh-graders Suzie Glover, Casey Kula, Anna Kate Massengale and JoAnne Stevens were successful.

“Alabama All-State Choir is a prestigious, auditioned group. Adjudicators hold auditions throughout the state in the seven choral districts,” Marla C. Jenkins said. Jenkins directs the choirs at Liberty and Discovery.

For auditions, students learned the state song, “Alabama” and their voice part in six pieces of music chosen by the conductor. Auditions were held at Central Baptist Church in Decatur in November.

“I was more nervous than if I had been auditioning myself. I’m incredibly proud of the All-State Choir students, others who auditioned and every choir member at Discovery and Liberty,” Jenkins said. About 50 seventh- and eighth-graders are in choir at each school.

“Students go into auditions in groups of 10 and are required to sing a section of each song alone,” Jenkins said. Adjudicators announce the sections at auditions.

The audition list included a song each in German and Spanish for the SSA (two soprano parts, alto) choir and a song in Latin for mixed choir. “All songs are challenging and require many hours of practice,” Jenkins said. “Students worked on their own to learn the pieces.”

Two weeks before auditions, Jenkins offered optional work sessions before and after school.

All-State Festival will be held April 3-5, 2014 at Samford University. Both middle and high school students will present concerts.

“Suzie, Anna, Chloe and Natalie will sing soprano I. Casey, JoAnne and Meredith will sing soprano II,” Jenkins said. Dr. Andrea Ramsey from The Ohio State University will conduct the SSA choir.

“Matthew will sing bass I in the mixed choir, open to audition for eighth-grade girls and seventh- and eighth-grade boys,” Jenkins said. Anthony Trecek-King, artistic director with Boston Children’s Chorus, will conduct.