MICDS had four students selected by audition to perform with the prestigious Missouri All-State Choir—a school record! Four students from throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan area were selected to each voice part, along with two alternates per voice part, following a challenging audition process.
In round one of the blind audition process, held in early October, each student performed a 90-second solo for a panel of three judges. They were evaluated on their tone quality, intonation, rhythm & pitch accuracy, diction, and overall musical effect. Each student had 20 seconds to study and perform two challenging sight-singing examples. The top 20 students in each voice part from throughout the St. Louis Metro area were given the opportunity to advance in the audition process.
On Thursday, November 4, 2021, MICDS hosted the Missouri All-State Choir auditions. During this second round of blind auditions, each student prepared the same choral work, O Sing Joyfully by Adrian Batten (1591-1637). Each student was judged on the same criteria as in round one, with their scores from round one being added to the scores in round two. The top four students in each voice part are named to the Missouri All-State Choir.
Congratulations to the four MICDS singers selected to the 2022 Missouri All-State Choir:
- Sebastian Ashman ’22, Tenor
- Lauren Douglas ’22, Alto
- Samantha Iken ’22, Alto
- Alizeh Jawaid ’23, Alto Alternate #1
Ashman said, “I am very grateful that we will have the opportunity to come together with other students who have a shared passion for singing.” Douglas agreed, “I am so grateful to be a part of All-State Choir and will cherish it forever! I am so thankful to DSelf for the opportunities he has given me and for showing me the beauty of music. I can’t wait to sing with others that share my same passion for music!”
“I am so proud to be part of a record-setting year,” said Jawaid. “A lot of work went into preparing for these auditions, and I know that even though this was my first year, next year will be just as amazing.”
The Missouri All-State Choir will perform as the grand finale of the 2022 Missouri Music Educators Association Conference and Clinic held at Tan-Tar-A Conference Center in Osage Beach, Missouri. The choir will be conducted by Michael Joseph Barrett, Director of Choral Activities at the University of Pretoria (South Africa) and the conductor of the Tuks Camerata.