Multiple rounds of tryouts and various competitions have recently seen eight Kingfisher Public Schools choir students garner all-state recognition.

“It’s been a very busy time for us,” said choral director Diann Magnus.

That busy time saw junior Raechel Evans cement her status as one of the top altos in the state.

Evans was named to the Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OKMEA) All-State Treble Choir for high school students (grades 10-12).

That came after Evans took part in two rounds of tryouts.

The first was Oct. 29 in Enid as high school and junior high (grades 7-9) began their quest for the coveted spots in the mixed and treble choirs.

High school students sing sections from three of four songs they learned and were judged in a blind audition by three judges.

They’re scored on voice quality, note accuracy, rhythm accuracy, dynamics, diction, intonation and phrasing.

The top 25 scores at each of four sites (northwest, northeast, southwest and southeast quadrants) advance to the second round of tryouts.

Joining Evans in advancing to the second round were Katie Beecher, Olivia Reyes and Elijah Johnson.

Meanwhile, six junior high students also advanced: freshmen Isabella Gomez, T.J. Washington and Andrew Takape, eighth grader Caroline Swafford and seventh graders Gisselle Ponce and Kynslee Nance.

“That meant these students were the top onefourth of their voice parts in the northwest quadrant,” Magnus said.

High school students took part in the second round Nov. 12 at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

Following the same procedure as the first round, students are chosen by raw score to be in the OKMEA mixed (male and female) and treble (female) choirs.

The top 25 scores earn a spot in the mixed and the next 35 are placed in treble.

Evans’ spot in the treble choir means she’ll take part in all-state festivities Jan. 18-21, 2023, at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center with a performance on the final day.

This was Evans’ second time to be selected all-state as she was also picked in 2021.

Junior high students had their second round of tryouts on Nov. 15 at Moore First Baptist Church.

They also followed the same procedures as the first round. For them, the top 50 scores from soprano 1, soprano 2, alto 1 and alto 2 are selected for the mixed or treble choirs.

The top 25 scores for tenors and bass are selected for the mixed.

Also, the top women scores are alternately placed in mixed and treble choirs.

Gomez was selected for the Oklahoma Choral Directors Association (OKCDA) Treble Choir and Swafford the OKCDA Mixed Choir.

This is the second time Gomez has been selected.

The two will take part in the OKCDA All-State Festival Jan. 12-14. They’ll perform the final day at the Oklahoma City Convention Center.

There is also an OKMEA Children’s All-State Choir and KPS had its share of selections to this group.

Earning a spot in the choir were eighth grader Julianna Austin, seventh graders Shilo Willingham and Gisselle Ponce, and fifth graders Hannah Johnson and Brailyn Schroeder.

Sarina Reyes, a sixth grader, was selected as a first alternate.

It’s the second straight year for Austin, Ponce and Willingham to be selected.

For their audition, the students were recorded and submitted by Magnus. The process involves students singing scales, a harmony exercise and a prepared song a cappella.

“This process is difficult and requires students to have good ear training,” Magnus said.

Of the 370 students who auditioned, only 130 were selected for the choir. Five of them will be from Kingfisher and Reyes will be called if one cannot participate.

They’ll attend OKMEA All-State Jan. 18-20 and perform Jan. 20, at the Tulsa Cox Convention Center.

“These students have worked very hard. These auditions teach students how to work under pressure and how to be prepared,” Magnus said.

“They learn to analyze their work whether they make a choir or not.”

Magnus said she encourages her students to participate in the events because of the life lessons they learn.

“They grow as people and as musicians,” she said.