Owasso Choir: NCDA All-District
By McKenna Worsham
The choir is usually overlooked at Owasso High School, though with hundreds of trophies and plaques hanging on their walls, it should be quite the opposite. In light of this prestigious reputation, Owasso has been chosen annually to host the NCDA All-District auditions. This year Owasso students will host and audition to compete against other students from the top choirs in the district. They will sing small cuts from multiple pieces of music (with all preparation done on their own) for a spot in the All-District Choir.
Picture of Owasso Choir students (from left to right- Boston Reed, Darci Roberts, Abby Young, and Danner McGarrah) at All District Auditions 10/1/22, taken by McKenna Worsham.
Nerves were high at the Owasso Eighth Grade Center as junior high and high school students from all around the district came to audition, starting as early as 7 a.m. There was lots of panicked breathing, nail-biting and some tears shed during the auditioning day.
Senior Abby Young perfectly sums up the auditioning process, “I definitely let my nerves get to me, wasn’t my best performance, but definitely wasn’t my worst. I’m feeling kind of hopeful.”
Though it was her first time auditioning, Young went into the day with confidence and truly set an example for younger students. Many of them felt as if every note was going to disappear from their sheet music as they set foot in the door. Having older students and volunteers, such as Young, to look to for help is a big part of why Owasso is so successful, holding district auditions every year. Although, it is important to share that “big kids” get scared too.
Even being decently level-headed, Young said, “Being around others that are nervous makes you more nervous…then you see everybody else freaking out, and it gets to you.”
Having a choir such as Owasso’s means being a part of something–something big. It truly is like having a second family. All from different walks of life and backgrounds, the Owasso Choir is home for many kids, and All-District is a way to expand that family.
Junior James Burkhalter says it best, “It kind of builds a sense of comradery…that’s why I’m in choir right now.”
Adding people to the choir family and meeting new people who love music just as much is the ultimate goal of All-District.
Burkhalter has been in the All-District choir every year since 6th grade and is hoping to keep that streak going. As the Owasso Choir students and teachers alike would attest, Burkhalter is a star that must keep shining, hopefully on stage at All-District 2022, for the fifth year in a row.
Picture of audition room signs taken by McKenna Worsham.
The District auditioning process, while nerve-wracking, is truly only the beginning for these students as musicians. The list of those who made the choir came out only 24 hours after auditions. With 46 Owasso Choir students making the All-District Choir, that list (of course) included Young and Burkhalter. These students went straight to work learning new music, practicing and training together to sing in front of an audience at Tulsa First Baptist Church on Nov. 8, 2022.
Make sure to put the date in your calendars and watch your Owasso Choir students perform with some of the district’s best musicians. You will not want to miss this!