It’s no easy task to gather top students in any discipline from multiple schools, so events like a masterwork choral concert are special.
Following an every-other-year schedule, on Tuesday, 185 members of the top varsity mixed choirs from Killeen ISD’s five comprehensive high schools gathered on one stage at the Chaparral High School auditorium.
In addition to about three hours of rehearsal together, the choirs broke into their individual school groups.
The day of rehearsals culminate in a concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Chaparral auditorium.
They were set to perform the “Requiem” by Gabriel Faure. The French Catholic mass is divided into multiple sets. Each choir was to perform two pieces, and the culmination was all five choirs together.
Dr. Michelle Roueche, head of choral activities at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor directed and composer Mark Henry accompanied on the organ. Three KISD choir directors performed solos.
Deborah Barrick, KISD assistant fine arts director listened to the rehearsal as she explained the value of the extra hours of work for high-level choir members.
“It’s very gentle and soothing,” she said of the music. “(Faure’s) is very ethereal.”
Bringing in a visiting college choir director and musician gives students exposure to career paths in music and choral college programs.
Some high school choral students make regional and state level choirs and have the chance to perform difficult music alongside high-ranking peers in a large group. Most choir students don’t get that chance.
“Now, they do,” Barrick said. “For some of them, this is the only time they will get to perform a collegiate piece with such a large ensemble. The first time I got to that in high school – it was cool,” she said.
“I want our students to have those experiences. It’s an incredible opportunity for them to expand their choral experience.”
Many students who get the chance to perform at such a high level are encouraged to join their college choir or even major in music.
A day before the rehearsal and concert, 14 KISD high school musicians tried out for the All-State Choir at a weather-postponed audition in Waco. Eleven of them made the state’s top choral group.
Ellison junior Callie Walker was one of those brand-new All-State Choir members.
“It’s really cool,” she said of rehearsing with the 185-voice KISD choir on Tuesday. “We all have our own choirs, but we never see each other. This opportunity is really cool.”
