Diann Magnus has orchestrated remarkable progress in the Kingfisher High School choir since taking over in 2012.

But, she says, building up the program is only just beginning.

The current progress culminated late last month when the group earned an “Excellent” rating at the OSSAA’s state chorus contest at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee.

Performing were Graci Endres, Cortney Smith, Jessica Martin, Melody Wilfong,Rylee Trent, Sicily Leck, Cassidy Homier, Liz Rutherford, Stormie Shockey, Maitland Pickle, Nathan Smalley, Jonathan Orozco, Aldo Perez, Fatima Padilla, Enriqueta Sanchez and Emily Skala.

Several of them will return April 18 to take part in the solo and ensemble competition.

To earn a spot at state, a choir must first earn a “Superior” rating for its performance at district. KHS has done that four straight years, the first-ever stretch that long in school history.

In fact, such a feat wasn’t even possible when Mag-nus was hired at KHS in 2012 with the ink on her University of Central Oklahoma diploma still damp.

“To compete, a school must have 13 students on stage,” Magnus said. “I had 11 students that year.”

The program now has 27 students at the high school level. The interest has been strong enough that three of her students have gone on to major in music at college.

“Mrs. Magnus and the students in choir have done such a tremendous job over the last few years of ‘raising the bar’ for our vocal program,” Superintendent Jason Sternberger said.

“They have consistently increased their performance ratings, level of competitions and student participation. I am so proud of how they represent Kingfisher Public Schools. We are so fortunate to have such quality kids and teachers in all programs.”

Choir competitions themselves aren’t easy and feature two parts: Performance and sight reading.

For the performance part, directors must choose at least one piece from the preferred music list provided by the OSSAA.

“All pieces are art or ‘classical’ pieces and one must be a Capella,” Magnus said.

Pop selections are not allowed.

This year, KHS performed a contemporary setting of “Kyrie” by John Estes and its a Capella piece was “The Fiddler” by Johannes Brahms.

“The judges listen to tone, vowels, consonants and pitches,” Magnus said. “We work on these fundamentals most of the fall semester.”

It gets tougher.

“For sight reading, students must learn to look at ‘never seen before’ music and figure out their part using only their ear (a Capella),” Magnus said.

“They work in sections, soprano, alto, bass. After working for three minutes, they sing for the judge, then fix problems for two minutes and sing for the judge again.”

Magnus has seen KHS students continually improve in all those areas since her arrival.

“We’ve made remarkable progress over the last seven years,” she said. “My students work hard and I push them to be better. When they think they can’t sing a better ‘ah’ or give me a crisper ’t’ on a word, I find a way to get it from them.”

They are part of a foundation Magnus said she hopes to continue to build upon.

“They want to be part of building a strong choral tradition in Kingfisher. I have had many of them since fifth grade and when they graduate, I will miss them,” she said.

“But, they will have contributed to something greater than themselves and when their kids are in choir and go to state, they will know they had a part in building that excellence.”