Every year, Barstow students can audition for the District Honor Choir. This year was no different and students were able to perform in the Choir. The Barstow students who auditioned this year were Alex Norman (‘25), Gus Ketchell (‘23), Abby Hill (‘25), Mimi Woods (‘26), and Sanjeev Adma (‘26).
“District Honor Choir is an opportunity for students to audition to come together with the best singers in the city to put together a performance,” Dr. Markley, the Middle and Upper School Music Director, described.
“Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, so it was an obvious choice to join Barstow Singers and audition for the District Honor Choir,” Alex Norman (‘25) said.
The District Honor Choir is a group made up of all the top singers in Missouri. Students have to audition for the Honor Choir in early October and then will perform in late October to early November. This year, the festival took place at Waynesville High School.
“So basically, students will go to a specific school to audition. They will do a sight-reading portion and then a private song of their own choice with an accompanist. It is a blind audition, where the judges cannot see you so there is no bias. Afterward, the judges will score you,” Dylan Markey (‘24) explained.
Sadly, this year Barstow was missing a few students for this audition. Chetan Thomas (‘24), Dylan Markey (‘24), and Lauren Rothaas (‘25) normally would have auditioned for something like the District Honor Choir, but could not due to scheduling issues.
“If they were ranked at a certain level then they could go to All-State. Sadly, we had no people go this year,” Dr. Markley commented.
“I am excited about next year and the opportunity to try again. I am definitely making state next year,” Norman said.
To make it to All-State Choir, only juniors and seniors who were accepted into District Honor Choir will be able to audition for the All-State Choir. The audition process would be similar to the District Honor Choir where students will sight-read and perform a piece that fits their vocal register.
If there are no issues that prevent students from participating, Barstow will undoubtedly be able to make it to All-State. Next year, the choir is only graduating one senior and the remaining students are strong contenders for the All-State Choir.
