The Harker Heights High School Master Singers are one of the best high school choral groups in the state of Texas.
Amazing as that statement sounds, there is something even more amazing about this 51-member choir.
“As good as they sound now,” said Harker Heights choir director Spencer Wiley, “they are going to sound even better.”
The top Harker Heights High School choir is one of two varsity mixed high school choirs in the state to receive an invitation to perform at this year’s Texas Music Educators Association convention in February.
On Thursday, the choir performed its program in a sort of combination “show off” and dress rehearsal for their upcoming moment in the state spotlight.
They brought the house down in an amazing, spirited performance at First United Methodist Church in Killeen, leading Wiley to express his excitement, praise, and assurance that they are still getting better.
The annual gathering of fine arts educators across the state takes place at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in downtown San Antonio.
The event Feb. 7 to 10 includes performances from all-state band, choir, and orchestra ensembles, which this year includes 10 Killeen ISD students.
It also includes invited middle school, high school, and college choirs to perform in afternoon and evening sessions the final two days.
To be considered for an invitation, Wiley submitted about 10 minutes’ worth of the choir’s performance spread across three years.
Multiple panels of judges adjudicated the submission in three rounds, listening to the first song, then all the songs, and then considering a proposed program for the event.
The Harker Heights Master Singers made the cut among 150 submissions.
“I’ve been going since I was 16 years old,” the director said of his experience at the TMEA gathering. That was his junior year at Copperas Cove High School when he made the All-State Choir.
“This has always been a dream. It is a huge accomplishment. It marks the biggest moment of my career,” said Wiley, now in his 18th year as a choir director spanning a middle school in Cedar Park, high school in Leander and five years at Harker Heights High School.
“I have such talented students,” he said. “They are amazing.”
Searching for the right word, Wiley settled on “relentless” to describe his students’ pursuit of excellence.
“They match and surpass expectations of every task I give them. I am so proud of their work ethic. Every day they take a step forward and I ask myself, ‘What else can I do to challenge them?’”
His top students are quick to praise Wiley and associate choir director Amber Moon.
The Harker Heights Master Singers join the 2020 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.
When the Master Singers enter the Stars at Night Ballroom for their 7:30 p.m. performance on Feb. 8, they will look out on approximately 2,000 audience members.
“It’s a ballroom, not an auditorium,” said Wiley. “It will be the biggest stage they have been in. It is beautiful and massive.”
They have another local pre-trip performance at 8 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Harker Heights High School auditorium, as well as scheduled appearances at various locations in San Antonio leading up to their TMEA timeslot.
