Two MICDS students were selected by audition to perform with the 2023 Missouri All-State Choir. Four students from throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan area were selected for each voice part, along with two alternates per voice part, following a challenging audition process. A total of 192 singers from throughout the State of Missouri are selected each year with this prestigious choir.
Round one of the blind audition process was held in early October. Each student performed a 90-second vocal solo for a panel of three adjudicators, where they were evaluated on their tone quality, intonation, rhythm and pitch accuracy, diction, and overall musical effect. Following their solo audition, each student had 20 seconds to study and perform two challenging sight-singing examples and identify two randomly selected key signatures. The top 20 juniors and seniors in each voice part from throughout the St. Louis Metro area were given the opportunity to advance to round two in the audition process.
On Thursday, November 3, 2022, MICDS hosted the auditions for the 2023 Missouri All-State Choir. During this second round of blind auditions, each student prepared the same choral work, Exultate Justi by Lodovico Grossi da Viadana (1560-1627). The students were evaluated 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 scoring students in each voice part are named to the Missouri All-State Choir.
Congratulations to the MICDS singers named to the 2023 Missouri All-State Choir:
- Alizeh Jawaid ’23, Alto
- Livi Thomas ’23, Soprano
This marks the second year that Jawaid has been selected to the Missouri All-State Choir. She said, “Auditioning for All-State was nerve-wracking since everyone is so good, but it was also heartwarming at the same time. Before the auditions started, I found a group of students from other schools and practiced with them. I had only met a couple of these students before, and even though we were competing against each other for four coveted spots, we encouraged each other and wished each other good luck. I am excited to return to Tan-Tar-A Conference Center in January to sing with others who are just as passionate as me about music.”
Thomas said, “Preparing for my audition required me to practice every day. I met with DSelf the day of the auditions and was a bit nervous, but he reminded me that I wouldn’t have gotten an audition if I didn’t earn one. I was quickly calmed because I had been prepared by someone who not only knew what they were doing but trusted me enough to push myself to be better. He is the reason that I have confidence in my voice and is the reason why I know that I earned my spot in the Missouri All-State Choir.”
MICDS had two singers named Honorable Mention for their outstanding audition preparation and performance. Those named Honorable Mention will be invited to participate in the Missouri All-State Festival Choir held in July during the Missouri Choral Directors Association Summer Conference.
Congratulations to the MICDS singers named Honorable Mention:
- Ben Iken ’24, Bass
- Rebecca Sennaraj ’24, Alto
The Missouri All-State Choir will perform on Saturday, January 28, 2023, as the grand finale of the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference and Clinic held at Tan-Tar-A Conference Center in Osage Beach, Missouri. The choir will be conducted by Dr. Kristina Caswell MacMullen, Associate Professor of Choral Conducting at the University of North Texas, where she conducts the University Singers, Kalandra, and instructs both undergraduate and graduate students in conducting and rehearsal pedagogy.