A Chaparral High School choir brought the house down during a preview showoff concert Monday in front of an audience of peers, family members and middle school choir students.
The school’s tenor-bass choir is on its way to the Texas Music Educators Association convention later this week and the biggest stage in scholastic choral performance in the state.
Choir Director Gerald Nicholas and Associate Choir Director Eric Bourg have guided the program to the elite invitation to the state convention as quickly as the rules allow.
More than 100 choirs statewide apply for the high honor each year. This year, six earned an invitation to perform. The application requires three years’ worth of vocal performance, which is exactly how long Chaparral High School has been open.
It would be difficult to overstate what Nicholas and Bourg have accomplished at Chaparral and in Killeen ISD fine arts.
In 2019-2020, Nicholas directed the choir program at Patterson Middle School, when that school’s tenor-bass choir received the invitation to perform at the TMEA convention.
At that time, the Patterson choir was the fourth in KISD history and the first in 20 years to earn the coveted state invitation.
In 2023-2024, the Harker Heights High School Master Singers mixed choir earned an invitation to perform at the state convention, the fifth invitation for KISD.
The Chaparral choir is scheduled to perform in front of a statewide audience of music educators at a 7 p.m. Friday session at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio.
The performance is composed of a challenging program of six pieces titled “Seize the Moment” that the choir has prepared over the course of the school year.
Zane Conway, a senior and soloist, said the choir continues to rehearse to be ready for the big moment on the big stage.
“A bunch of cram sessions to make sure it’s all perfect to make sure that when we get on that stage it’s just another performance for us,” he said Monday following the home concert at the Chaparral auditorium.
“Seeing the guys lighten up and to bring everyone up with their voices is an amazing feeling,” he said. “It’s a great feeling being a part of that.”
Looking out at the middle school and high school audience preparing to leave, he said, “I wish I had something like that at middle school. I like to be that role model. Peers can be the most judgmental so if they give me good critiques I know we’re doing good.”
Many of the Chaparral choir members attended Patterson when Nicholas was the director there. Their admiration of the popular teacher is clear.
“I think it’s really big for our program and for us to grow together as a family,” said junior Orlando Mendoza. “I love every year with these guys.”
The challenge, he said, has been to stay focused. “We’re making sure we are on task and we want to have fun and grow as friends and a family. We want to make a name for Chaparral.”
Senior Zachary Repine is going to the TMEA convention for the third time this year. In addition to singing with his Chaparral choir, he is part of the All-State choir for the third year.
“I’ve been able to experience it. I’m ready for them to experience it,” he said in reference to his peers. “I think it changes your mind on everything. The venue is so big, and everyone is excellent. I think it’s awesome.”
“This is our fourth year (as a school) and right when we could submit, we got it, so that’s awesome. The level of music is hard, but it’s going to sound really good.”
Photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720331955379
Previous story announcing CHS choir invitation:
https://www.killeenisd.org/article/2439198