Story by student reporter, Brianna Parker
Prodigies in Thomas County Central High School chorus and band programs indulged their musical passions at recent state conferences.
TCCHS chorus students attended the All-State Chorus event in Athens. The event lasted Feb. 23-25.
There were 6,307 registrants for the event. Out of those, only 1,584 passed the first audition and only 1,412 passed the second. Five of those students were from TCCHS?.
The TCCHS chorus students were accepted into three of the five possible all state choirs. Zion Jackson and Caleb Giddens were accepted into the senior mens chorus, Logan Leik and Marc Rountree were accepted into the senior mixed chorus, and Stephen Sykes was accepted into the intermediate mixed chorus.
Only the best high school musicians from the state attended, and only after completing vigorous auditions. Students had to successfully go through two auditions to be qualified for the event.
“For the first audition, students were required to proficiently sing an Italian aria from memory,” TCCHS chorus teacher Nicole Davis stated. “They were judged on diction, tone, breath control, and rhythm. They also had to successfully sight read three different melodies, which is typically seen as the most difficult portion of the audition.”
Students practiced steadily to prepare for the event.
“I’d practice every day for my entire chorus class period,” Zion Jackson said. “I’d start with songs I knew best first so I could focus more on the songs I didn’t know. I’d go home and spend 30 minutes just going through the rhythms and notes of every song.”
This year, conductors were from San Jose State University, Southeastern Methodist University, and University of Michigan.
“What stood out the most was our conductor, Dr. Eugene Rogers from University of Michigan,” Caleb Giddens said. “He was an incredible and energetic man, which I personally think helped me to have more energy and more fun as I sang.”
Rogers heavily impacted the students’ singing abilities.
“My favorite experience at this event was being able to work with my conductor, Dr. Eugene Rogers,” Jackson said. “He was full of energy and the way he projected it into the room astounded me, challenging us to match his energy and have fun with the experience.”
The conductor from San Jose University was Dr. Jeffrey Benson.
“What stood out about the trip the most was how my conductor, Dr. Jeffrey Benson, would be able to make analogies about what we were singing, and right away our sound was different and better because of it,” Stephen Sykes said.
Another event some TCCHS singers got to attend was All State Reading Chorus Jan. 26-28 in Athens. Only 150 students out of the 300 who auditioned were accepted, including Giddens and Marc Rountree. Students thoroughly enjoyed their experience.
“The event was a barrel of fun, and the experience was one of great reward,” Giddens said. “I got to do a lot of singing, which is one of my favorite things to do.”
Going to the event(s) was thrilling for all the students.
“The event (All-State Chorus) was spectacular and I feel as though it's an experience of a lifetime for anyone,” Jackson stated. “I had a blast, and if I had the chance, I would have no hesitation in repeating this experience.”
Davis is incredibly proud of her students for their accomplishments.
“I am extremely proud of the young men who have travelled to all-state this year,” she said. “In past years, I have seen them grow steadily as musicians so that they could reach this goal. They are a great example of what can be achieved through dedication.”
TCCHS Bands students took part in separate all-state events. First, Logan Leik, who plays the bass trombone, attended the 2017 Georgia All-State Jazz Band held Jan. 26-28.
“I was very excited to be performing with some of the best students in the state as well as one of the most famous jazz directors in the world,” he said. “It was an honor to work with such talented, amazing people.”
He rehearsed with the band for two days before performing a concert on the last day. The clinician for the band was Ronald Carter, a former director of the world-renowned jazz band Northern Illinois University.
“He was an amazing clinician,” TCCHS assistant band director Paul Johns raved. “I’m not sure who enjoyed learning from this jazz pedagogue more, myself or Logan!”
Leik was also very fond of Carter.
“I believe the director stood out to me the most out of everything,” he began. “He was very passionate about jazz music and did not go easy on us. He made the event challenging and fun, and I have to say he was extremely energetic and memorable. He definitely made an impact on my life and I am glad he was the clinician for this year’s All-State Jazz Band.”
Johns is proud of Leik.
“He’s the perfect example that hard work and patience pays off,” Johns enthused. “He has represented himself, his school, and community very well. At the concert, it was [a] great moment to look at the program with names of the best players from all over the state and to see ‘Logan Leik - Thomas County Central’.”
Then, Caleb Moore attended the 2017 Georgia All-State 9/10 Concert Band the weekend of March 3. Moore, who primarily plays the tuba, thoroughly enjoyed his experience.
“There were so many young musicians, like myself, that yearned to make music,” he said. “The joy and feeling that I experienced at the first rehearsal is one that cannot be explained. At the end of the trip, I realized through the art of music that life is what you make it.”
One of the most significant moments from the event to him was playing the song “Rest” by Frank Ticheli. Moore found a greater meaning in the piece.
“Lately, there has been a great deal of death in my family, and the meaning behind this song gave me a sense of closure about all the family members I had lost,” he said. “Up to this very moment, I still listen to the song. It will forever be my favorite piece of band literature.”