seLect choiR Successful at Festivals

LARGE ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL

Select Choir has had an outstanding year with district honors. Following a very successful fall with 18 students selected for the Northwest AllDistrict Choir, Select Choir participated in the annual MSHSAA State Large Ensemble Festival on March 9 at Staley High School. They performed two prepared pieces: Mozart’s “Dies Irae” arranged by Liebergen and “We Are Held” by Missouri composer Susan LaBarr. A panel of three judges scored them on musical and technical components. They received 2 Outstanding and 1 Exemplary rating from these judges. Following their performance on stage, they entered the Sight Reading room where they were given a total of four minutes to study a piece of music before performing it twice for a judge. During this preparation period, students were not allowed to sing a single note of the song. Once the time was up, they were given starting pitches and had to perform the entire piece of music for the judge. Select Choir received an Exemplary rating from the Sight Reading judge. The combined scores resulted in an overall Exemplary Gold rating, which is the highest possible rating an ensemble can receive. This is the third time Select Choir has received this high honor since Mrs.

Covey began teaching in 2008. The previous top ratings were given in 2014 and 2017. Prior to those years, 2006 was the last time a choir from Lawson received top honors.

DISTRICT SOLO/SMALL ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL

A few weeks later, on Apr. 1, 11 vocal soloists performed in the MSHSAA District Solo/Small Ensemble Festival at Liberty High School. Each student prepared two contrasting solos to perform from memory in front of a judge. The judge rated the soloist on musical and technical components, similar to the large ensemble festival. For the first time since 2019, two vocalists qualified to advance to the MSHSAA State Solo/Small Ensemble Festival held on the Mizzou campus on Thursday, Apr. 27. Aleah Johnson (9) and Hunter Thompson (10) both received Exemplary Gold ratings and will be advancing to state. Ava Briegel (11), Jocelyn Hazlett (11), Haley Hollon (11), Haley Lewis (10), Joanna Mayne (9), Carsyn McPheeters (12), Cade Shafer (11), Cara Siebert (10), and Jacklyn Thompson (10) all received Outstanding Silver ratings on their solos. This is the largest number of soloists Mrs. Covey has had compete at the District Festival.

Archery Club: right on tArget

High school archery club meets on Wednesday mornings for grades 9th-12th in the middle school gym. The middle school archery club meets Thursday mornings for grades 5-8. Both clubs meet from 7-7:40 a.m. Students learn bow safety and the basics of archery. Students also have an opportunity to shoot bows in summer school during the Sports Unlimited class.