As the house lights dim in the large performance hall, the audience silences themselves, eager to watch some of the best high school vocalists in the state. The bright spotlights shift to the choir, all in formation, prepared to sing their breathtaking pieces thanks to the help of their clinician, choir director, and peers from all across the state. As the conductor raises their right hand to signal the choir to begin their piece, memories flood back to moments prior, from the stressful audition preparations in the fall to the intense rehearsal hours prior. These groups, known as the all-state and all-region choirs, prepare students not only for vocal events after the performance, but also equips them with many life lessons through the intense process of audition to performance.
About the choirs
All-region and all-state competitions and concerts are organized by the Texas Performing and Visual Arts Educators Association (TPSMEA), which spans the entire state. At the start of the school year, students are given two chosen songs to practice and record a clip of. These recordings are submitted to regional judges in October. From the director’s perspective, this is a bustling time. As Mr. Crownover insightfully mentions, “As a director the work starts with getting the audition music into the hands of the students and guiding them along the path record their performances,” which can be an intense time. A region consists of a group of counties within Texas, such as region 1, which consists of Dallas, Collin, Kaufman, and many others in the northeast corner of Texas. The regional choir results are announced, and the top half of the chosen students for all-region have their recordings sent to state judges for a more competitive review. Out of this group of highly talented singers, a few are selected to participate in the state choir. Months later, the all-region and all-state choir clinics and concerts occur at the beginning and middle of January respectively.
Personal experience
Even though I didn’t make it to the all-state choir, my experience in the all-region choir was truly unforgettable. During those 8 intense hours of rehearsal and performance, out group of singers who hardly knew each other worked together to create beautiful music. The music was more challenging than usual, but the joy of finally mastering pieces such as “Flight Song” by Kim Andre Arnesen and “Alleluia, O Praise the Lord Most Holy” by Bach was amazing. The way the harmonies blended across five different voice parts was almost magical, giving an incredible listening experience.
Yet, the true magic lies not just in the destination but in the lessons learned along the way. The clinic was a treasure trove of knowledge, enhancing my choir skills and equipping me for every session at Jesuit. For example, the rehearsal challenged the way I shaped my vowels during a song and where and how I breathe during a song. Dr. McLean, our clinician for the day and professor at Baylor University, also encouraged our group to seek music not only as an extracurricular activity in high school, but as a lifetime hobby or potentially a job or major. Moreover, the audition process was a pivotal exercise in honing my time-management abilities and forced me to improve my choir skills in a short amount of time.
In everyday life
Even though all-region and all-state create a large community of like-minded singers across the state, the journey and destination create a ripple effect in the singers’ everyday lives. They often feel that the skills and lessons gained extend into their everyday life, shaping their confidence and personal growth.
Throughout each rehearsal, time was given for students to get to know each other and build a community that would extend past the auditorium doors in both all-region and all-state clinics. As Alan Ramirez ’26 emphasized that from his experience in all-state, “[Shared meals and impromptu sing-alongs] not only provided a welcome respite from intensive rehearsals but also created lasting friendships and expanded professional networks.” Even though the singers originally rivaled each other, Alan also noticed that “the competitive nature of the auditions gave way to a collaborative and supportive environment,” showing how the desire for collective growth as a new community is a larger priority then individual success, creating camaraderie among the singers.
On top of building a community of singers across the state, the process from audition to performance builds fearlessness in each participant. As Mr. Crownover, the director of the men’s chorus at Jesuit, humorously highlighted, “I think Michael Scott said it best: ‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. – Wayne Gretzky.’” His amusing reference underscores a profound truth about pursuing opportunities. Mr. Crownover elaborated that
“It takes courage to put yourself out there as a musician and overcome the fear of performing for an audience.”
He went on to emphasize the importance of taking risks: “You never know how far you can go if you don’t go for it.” This sentiment resonates with many musicians he encountered. “I see it in musicians all the time. The more you face your fears and try things like all-region and all-state, the more you build confidence that permeates into your day-to-day life.”
Mr. Crownover also pointed out that the audition process itself, where you make the choir or not, serves as a crucial skill and life lesson. “It is a skill and life lesson in its own right,” he remarked. The experience not only encourages artistic expression but also instills resilience and a sense of achievement, equipping participants with valuable tools that they can carry with them long after the final notes have faded.
In the future
Despite the event taking place only weeks ago, Mr. Crownover also has goals for the future of all-state going forward, mentioning that he would “like to see more students go through the audition process going forward.” Even though the process of rehearsing your pieces frequently and recording yourself singing with only a piano track may seem daunting, Mr. Crownover highlights that “the journey of an audition is a skill and life lesson in itself,” meaning that even if you don’t make it, there is wisdom to gain through the experience.
Mr. Crownover also applauds Jesuit’s commitment to music education in this intense process, as “without a well-supported and dedicated music program students won’t have to tools they need to succeed in the audition process.” This dedication from the school, along with the continued education during the all-state and all-region season, helps give students a “deepened love for music and new skills to share with their peers back here at Jesuit.”
The all-region and all-state choirs, while allowing competitive singers to deepen their skills and knowledge, is about much more than music; it’s an experience that allows students to grow in their life skills and confidence, all the while intensifying their appreciation of music. Through the challenging audition process, intense rehearsals, and inspiring performances, students take away priceless life lessons in perseverance, risk-taking, and personal growth. As Jesuit’s commitment to music only continues to grow, we can look forward to viewing more students embrace the challenge of these choirs, creating a vibrant community of artists prepared with the tools they need to succeed at both choir and life.
