Marble Falls High School choir lands another big invitation
“This has been an incredible year for the choir,” said director Bryce Gage. “We’ve already been invited to sing at the White House in December, and now we’re going to the state Capitol.”
Unlike the White House event Dec. 9, which came out of the blue, Gage submitted an compact disc of the Chorale’s music for consideration to perform at the Capitol.
“This was something that we were selected for,” he said, “so that makes it even more special.”
Texas Arts Education Day is sponsored by the Texas Coalition for Quality Arts Education, which promotes the fine arts in schools. It has held the arts education day at the Capitol every legislative session since 1997. Along with the Texas Music Educators Association, the TCQAE is working on a legislative plan to support the fine arts in public schools.
The two organizations also sponsor the GoArts campaign to advocate on students’ behalf for a quality art education, officials said.
For the Chorale and choir program, it’s another sign things are moving forward. Three years ago Gage only had 17 students at the start of the school year. This year, the program boasts about 140 members.
“This administration, school board, the high school faculty and the community have just been so supportive of the choir program,” Gage said. “We’ve been so fortunate. But, the kids have also worked extremely hard to get where we are.”
The Chorale will sing for about eight minutes in the Capitol Rotunda before moving to the south side steps for another 15 minutes or more.
Along with the Capitol invitation, the choir is rehearsing for the high school Christmas concert Dec. 7 as well as preparing to record its Christmas compact disk. The 44-member Chorale will leave following the holiday concert for Washington, D.C., for the performance in the East Room of the White House.
Three students — Hannah Faye Foster, Ariel Moncivais and Clynt Powell — have also been selected for the national honor choir which will perform in Oklahoma City March 7. Moncivais is also still in the running for the Texas All-State Choir with the next round of auditions Jan. 10.
In the mix, the choir is rehearsing for its annual musical production. And the students and directors still have their regular academic responsibilities.
Gage admitted with all those oars in the water things can get pretty choppy. But the rewards for the students are worth it.
“These kids will be able to sing and visit places other students probably would never get the opportunity to. It’s exciting to be invited to all these places,” he said. “It’s also a lot of work. It’s a crazy time around here. But it’s also an awesome time around here.”
daniel@thepicayune.com