ALL COUNTY CHORUS NEVER FALLS FLAT

By KRISTEN BOERKE

Washingtonville is represented in many extraordinary ways.  As the students of the select choirs  audition for OCMEA All County Chorus, the results never cease to make Washingtonville proud.  What many people may not know is that the audition process is unlike anything most students have ever experienced.

KRISTEN BOERKE FOR THE WIZARD WEEKLY

According to OCMEA, their organization is “a non profit organization that converts all money available into programs which shall aim to advance music education, and encourage the appreciation of live music performances.”  In addition, OCMEA also offers “an opportunity for outstanding school musicians to perform in All-County Choirs, Bands and Orchestras, and educational programs which will be of benefit to students and teachers in Orange County.” 

All County Chorus is a select choir where all vocalists in Orange County are given the opportunity to be a part of a stellar singing group.  This annual music festival will be taking place at Pine Bush High School on January 26th and 27th.  But, how do students get in?  The process is anything but easy, yet most would agree that the struggle is well worth it.

“Lacrymosa, di es illa”... what does that even mean?  The select choir students at WHS know.  Vocalists who would like to audition practice a twelve measure piece; this year it was in Italian  and entitled, Lacrymosa.  The music is made for four vocal parts: a soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone or bass.  In groups of four, also known as quartets, each sings their own part together with beautiful harmonies and great emotion.  The groups practice for a couple weeks in school, in lessons, and after school as well.  

On the day of auditions, students meet at a specific high school where they are given time to warm up.  Next, they enter the audition room in double quartets and are required to hit the starting notes before beginning  to sing for the four judges sitting in front of them.

Kathryn Finnigan, a senior vocalist at Washingtonville High School, has been auditioning and and has been a part of the All County Choir for four years straight- including this year.  Finnigan expressed, “The All County audition process is different because we go in as a group to make sure all of our voices sound good together.”  It was obvious that she shined as Kathryn made it into All County Chorus for the fourth time in her high school career, not to mention her middle and elementary school involvement.

The judges evaluate the vocalists based upon “how well the song is known, diction, pronunciation, posture, expressiveness, breath support, and so much more,” explained junior vocalist Celine Estrada.  Estrada has been participating in All County Chorus since the fifth grade.  However, this year Estrada had a choice: whether she should perform in all county this year or travel hours away for a life changing audition.  

Students show one of the complicated audition pieces.

Celine chose to travel to pursue her dream as well as her music career.  This does entail a “ban” from all county chorus the following year due to the strict rules about cancellation.  Estrada isn't worried about her decision because she is preparing to audition for the All County Jazz Choir soon.  The All County Jazz Choir requires the same audition process, yet there is one major difference.  In the audition piece, Estrada will sing the full song “Route 66” as a soloist with an improvised scat in the middle of the song. 

Once accepted into the stellar choir, “You receive about five pieces that you will perform at the concert, with a range of styles, languages, and length, so they can be four pages to fifteen pages depending on the difficulty of the piece,” stated Finnigan.  Singers only receive two lengthy rehearsals as a total group: one on Friday for about five hours, and the next Saturday, the day of the concert, from 8am- 4pm.   “These are long hours of sitting, standing, and singing.  It’s really fun though because you meet a lot of amazing people with the same passions as you,” conveyed Estrada. 

Finnigan stated, “It’s a challenging and fun experience” that she constantly looks forward to annually.  Anyone interested in music should attend the All County Chorus Festival on January 27th and 28th to hear some stellar vocalists. Congrats to the thirteen singers from WHS who made it and good luck to Celine Estrada on future auditions!