BLINN COLLEGE STUDENTS EARN ALL-STATE CHOIR RECOGNITION
Seven Blinn College District choir students have been selected to the Texas Two-Year Choral Directors Association’s All-State Choir, with three others named as alternates.
the Texas Two-Year Choral Directors Association’s
All-State Choir or as alternates were (from left)
Adrianna Cardoza, Gabriel McKnight, Leora Otteson,
Kishjon Rogers, Desh Cunningham, Hunter Reeves,
and Jaleigh Richard. Not pictured are Aidan
Arredondo, Anastasia Gonzales, and Ilaria Calarco.
(courtesy Blinn College)
Selected to the all-state choir were sopranos Ilaria Calarco and Leora Otteson, alto Adrianna Cardoza, tenors Desh Cunningham and Gabriel McKnight, and basses Hunter Reeves and Aidan Arrendondo. Alternates are sopranos Jaleigh Richard and Anastasia Gonzales, and bass Kishjon Rogers.
The students were selected after auditioning before a panel of judges in November. The Texas Two-Year College All-State Choir provides a large-ensemble, choral-performance opportunity under the direction of a nationally recognized conductor for students enrolled in two-year college music programs across the state.
The All-State Choir will perform Wednesday, Feb. 11, as a 160-member ensemble during the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) convention in San Antonio. The performance is at 5 p.m. in the convention center’s Stars at Night Ballroom.
“It’s such an honor to get to represent our school,” said Reeves, a sophomore from Katy. “It’s an honor to go to a place where we get to be ourselves, enjoy music, and perform for other people.”
TMEA hosts auditions annually for the all-state ensembles. During the rigorous selection process, students must demonstrate advanced technical skills, musical interpretation, and proficiency.
“Our candidates rehearsed every Tuesday evening in September, October, and November to learn the music and prepare for the audition,” said Dr. Larry Smith, Blinn Choir Director. “Blinn students represented the College very well and this may be our largest contingent to participate in the All-State Choir.”
Smith said the three alternates will learn in January if they will join the performance at the convention.
All students selected or named as alternates are members of Blinn’s concert choir, and some also are members of the chamber choir.
The Blinn College District Music Department offers small classes, one-on-one attention, practical learning, and easily accessible faculty so that students are actively engaged in a superior learning environment. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu/music.
(Story courtesy Blinn Information)