White House invites Marble Falls High School Chorale to perform

The 44-member Chorale includes (front row, left) Chelsea Moores, Savannah Spiller, Hannah Walker, Austin Cartwright, Duncan Hicks, Colton Spurlock, Levi Garrett, Bradon Legier, Leatha Polasek, Kylee Ellis, Jordan Nelson, Ashley Vasquez, (second row, left) Jordon Wolfenbarger, Lana Westerlage, Elizabeth Stone, Joseph Flint, Tanner Rowland, Colton Rapstine, Chito Hernandez, Jose Suarez, Haley Poole, Ariel Moncivais, Caitlin Schnorrenberg, (third row, left) Kyleigh Ann Futrell, Anissa Moussa, Paige Greenfield, Jennifer Holland, Cody Summerville, Brent DeKock, Jordan Anderson, Stephen Brady, Candace Villa, Jaye Lyn Griffin, Brianna Rodriguez, (fourth row, left) Hannah Faye Foster, Raquel Collier, Amanda Gray, Austin Koska, Russel Garrett, Bryant Hale, Logan Clark, Lisa Hearn, Nikki Thompson and Briana Fisher. Photo by Virgil Belk/Hill Country Sports Images

MARBLE FALLS — It’s an evening at the White House by invitation only Dec. 9, and 48 Marble Falls High School students and two faculty members will be guests of honor — as well as the entertainment.

Yet the event almost didn’t happen when initially only half of the group was invited, prompting all to decline a once-in-a-lifetime event. White House officials relented, and now the entire group is going.

“We’re singing at the White House,” said Bryce Gage, high school choir director. “This is one of the biggest things for this choir. And, we were truly invited. This wasn’t something we sent a CD in to be considered. We were invited.”

Word of the invitation has been circulating on campus and in the community for almost two weeks now, but it wasn’t until Tuesday that Gage was allowed to announce the news outside his classroom walls.

“We just wanted to make sure we were going,” he said. “The superintendent and administration have been so supportive of this. Without them, this trip would never be happening.”

Superintendent Ryder Warren said the initial contact with the White House came through local businessman Bob Sewell. 

“He has a couple of connections at the White House and it really was because of him that our choir was able to get this invitation,” Warren said. “The district is truly thankful to Mr. Sewell for making this opportunity available for our students.”

The genesis for the invitation may have started last spring when somebody asked Gage which trip he’d most like to take with his choir. He simply said, “I’d like to sing in the White House.”

On Oct. 23, Warren called Gage and said he needed to contact Sewell’s office.

After a few phone calls and e-mails, the White House issued an official invitation to the Marble Falls High School Chorale to perform Dec. 9 in the foyer.

“I was so excited,” choir president Chelsea Moores said. “What an honor to be invited to the White House to sing.”

The Chorale members — the highest level of choir at the high school — expressed excitement. No other Marble Falls High choir has ever been extended such an invitation, at least in recent memory.

But the excitement quickly turned to disappointment. The White House told Gage he could only bring 20 students because the foyer wasn’t large enough to handle any more and still allow visitors to come through. In order to make the trip, Gage and co-director Jennie Lyn Hodges would have to trim 24 members from the Chorale’s visiting group.

Neither liked the idea. After much discussion between themselves and campus administrators, Hodges and Gage took the issue to the 44 students.

“We talked about this at great length,” Gage said. “Jennie and I agreed what we wanted to do. But we also wanted to talk to the (Chorale) about it. We worked so hard. The kids have worked so hard to get the choir where it is to let one thing — even a performance in the White House — cause cracks in it.”

The directors put the question to the students. At first some said the group should still go even if it meant some singers weren’t picked. But as the members began further discussions, they realized problems could arise by accepting an invitation for only 20 of them instead of the entire Chorale.

“It was disappointing at first when we found out we could only bring 20 because it would cause some tension in the choir,” Chorale member Stephen Brady said. 

Moores said the members and directors decided the best decision for the choir and the future of the program was one of the toughest — say no.

“I had to go back and say ‘Thank you, but we have to respectfully decline,’” Gage said.

Moores said it was a tough decision but the Chorale is more than just a single performance event, even one at the White House.

“We’re a family. We’re a team. And we stick together,” she said. “It was all or nothing.”

It was the same decision Gage and Hodges thought would be in the best interest of the choir, but both said it was reaffirming to hear it come from the students.

After replying they would not be able to attend, Gage thought that going to the White House was one item he would probably never get to cross off his “bucket” list — the list a person makes before he or she “kicks the bucket.” 

But a member of the White House staff Gage spoke with asked him what it would take to get the choir to come to Washington. He told her the entire Chorale would have to perform.

After several e-mails between the woman and another staffer, the White House did something Gage and Hodges never expected.

“They made an exception for us,” Hodges said.

Instead of performing in the foyer, the Chorale was invited to sing in the East Room, large enough to accommodate all 44 members.

Brady said he can still remember when he found out the invitation came back for the entire Chorale. He was listening to announcements in second period which included one requesting all Chorale members to report to the choir room because Gage had something to tell them.

“Before I even walked into the room people were outside jumping up and down,” he said. “And I knew we were going to the White House. I can’t believe it — we’re going to the White House.”

The Chorale will perform for 90 minutes in the East Room, the largest room in the White House. They will sing 20 traditional holiday and Christmas songs for the invitation-only open house. Several of the members will sing solo pieces.

With five weeks before the performance, the two directors are pushing the Chorale members hard. On top of the White House concert, the performers are also working on the annual Christmas concert and musical.

“We also have several students still preparing for all-region choir auditions,” Hodges said. “It’s going to be extremely busy for us. But these kids perform and work so well under pressure. We’re so confident that they will not only come through, but give a concert of their lifetime.”

Gage nodded.

“We just added the biggest event we ever could,” he said. “I know they’ll give a performance like no other.”

It’s about more than just the 44 students singing, Hodges said. 

“This is something that puts Marble Falls on the map,” she said. “There are so many other schools, much larger ones, that never get to do something like this.”

Moores agreed.

“Here we are – little Marble Falls – and we’ve been invited to the White House,” she said. “We’re going to have this memory to take with us the rest of our lives.”

“This is a huge honor,” Brady said. “It will not only make the Marble Falls choir, but the entire school look good.”

It will also be a moment only a few will get to experience. As an invitation-only event, the White House is closed that evening. Even parents and chaperons going with the Chorale on the trip won’t be allowed into the White House — only the 44 members, Gage and Hodges.

“I think this will be something that really brings us closer together,” Moores said.

Gage said in some ways that makes the invitation and performance even more special.

“It’s only an event we get to hear and enjoy,” he said. “This is something we’ll share together as a group.”

But the students and directors know a White House performance two days after the high school choir Christmas concert means a lot of work and practice. Gage and Hodges believe the students are up to the challenge.

“You give me five hard weeks,” Gage told the Chorale during rehearsal Tuesday, “and we’ll make a statement.”

daniel@thepicayune.com