The Chaparral High School Varsity Tenor-Bass Choir can lay claim to the title “one of the best high school choirs in Texas.”
The Bobcat Choir’s men’s ensemble is set to perform by invitation at the Texas Music Educators Association annual convention in February.
They will take the stage of the Stars at Night Ballroom in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in downtown San Antonio during an annual event that draws thousands of music teachers and choir directors from across the state.
For Killeen ISD Fine Arts, the elite invitation is becoming downright routine - almost.
Chaparral Choir Director Gerald Nicholas follows on the heels of his colleague, Harker Heights High School Choir Director Spencer Wiley, whose Master Singers performed by invitation at TMEA in 2024.
Ironically, Wiley also followed on the heels of Nicholas, who broke a 20-year drought for Killeen ISD when he was choir director at Patterson Middle School and his varsity boys’ choir received the TMEA invitation in 2019 to perform in 2020.
This year’s invitation for Chaparral is just the sixth ever for a KISD choir.
“It is an honor to represent Chaparral High School and KISD at TMEA this year,” said Nicholas.
“When we launched this program in 2022, one of our long-term goals was to be invited to perform at TMEA.”
“In just three years, our students’ dedication and hard work have brought that goal to life. This invitation is a true testament to their commitment and excellence. We’re excited to share the great things happening in KISD with educators around the state.”
The application process requires three years’ worth of performance history, so the Bobcat Choir, now in its fourth year, won the high honor as quickly as the rules allowed.
Chaparral senior Azir Ward, a choir member four years with Nicholas, praised his director in connection with the special invitation.
“To me, this is a present for Mr. Nic,” said Ward. “All these last four years have been the best I could ask for. Helping us grow individually and together is the best we could ask for. Going to TMEA is the best.”
"We take immense pride in the distinguished choir program at Chaparral High School," said KISD Fine Arts Director Morganne Davies. "Under the exemplary leadership of directors Gerald Nicholas and Eric Bourg, the program embodies an unwavering commitment to artistic and academic excellence."
Prior to the 2020 convention, which was the organization’s 100th, it was 2000 the last time a Killeen choir performed at the event.
Five years ago, just days before the COVID-19 virus shut down much of the globe, 32 Patterson seventh- and eighth-grade boys performed on the huge stage in downtown San Antonio.
At the time, Nicholas was in his sixth year of teaching after attending KISD from kindergarten through graduation at Shoemaker High School and going on to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
The Patterson choir sang seven pieces in a program that followed the cycle of life from love to death to melancholy to redemption to moving forward.
Just four years later, the 51-voice Harker Heights High School Master Singers took the same stage with a moving, high-energy, spirit-fueled performance.
To be considered for the honor of performing at TMEA, directors submit about 10 minutes’ worth of their choir’s performances spread across three years.
About 150 choirs submit requests a year.
This year’s Chaparral High School Varsity Tenor-Bass Choir joins the 2023-2024 Harker Heights Master Singers, the 2019 Patterson Middle School Tenor-Bass Choir, 1999 Killeen High School Choir, 1992 Manor Middle School Choir and 1991 Ellison High School Choir among KISD’s TMEA invited choirs.
The TMEA convention is scheduled Feb. 11 to 14, 2026. Chaparral is slotted in a premium spot, scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13.
The local community will have a chance to see the Chaparral choir in a performance at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2 at First United Methodist Church in Killeen.
In addition to the limited number of elite Texas choirs that perform, the convention hosts the state’s All-State choir, band and orchestra in showcases throughout the week.
"Within a remarkably short span of time, this accomplished ensemble has earned a prestigious state-wide invitation," said Davies. "It is a transformative milestone that will enrich the lives of these students for years to come."