FSHS musicians ready for competition

Ten music students at Fort Scott High School will be heading to Wichita to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association state convention. Back row: (left-right) Charlie Sercer, Chris Clay, Grant Stucky, Jeff Durbin, and Chase Rooks. Front row: (left-right) Silvia Singmaster, Courtney Carpenter, Delynn Drake, and Kaitlyn Russell. Addison Brown is not pictured.
(Michael Pommier/Tribune)

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The students, representing the choir led by instructor Pat Harry, the orchestra led by instructor Jane Williams, and the band led by director James Fox, will be part of the Kansas Music Educator's Association state event in which all-state groups meet to rehearse and perform.

Students who will attend the festival this weekend are chosen from a pool of about 17,000 high school musicians from throughout the state. The number of all-state students who are chosen is limited to about 100 band students, 100 orchestra students, and 250 choir students.

FSHS has the largest number of qualifying students in Southeast Kansas, Williams said.

Those students selected are: Charlie Sercer, violin, senior; Chase Rooks, alto saxophone, junior; Kaitlyn Russell, soprano, junior; Sylvia Singmaster, soprano, senior; Addison Brown, alto, junior; Courtney Carpenter, alto, senior; Delynn Drake, alto, junior; Christopher Clay, tenor, senior; Grant Stucky, tenor, senior; and Jeff Durbin, bass, junior.

The group is looking forward to attending the event and performing with the best musicians across the state.

"This experience is one reason why I want to be a music major in college," Stucky said.

Rooks said he is in his second year as a member of the state honor band and he is currently sitting second chair.

Drake said this is the second year she has been part of the all-state choir and she hopes "to be a three-year participant."

The students were scheduled to leave Thursday and will perform Saturday afternoon at the Century II Convention Center in Wichita.

A rigorous audition process is required for acceptance into the state ensembles. Students must first audition for and advance into one of the six regional ensembles. If they make it into the regional group, they can audition for the state ensemble. The choir auditions take place at the site of the regional event, while the band and orchestra travels to Salina to audition.

According to www.ksmea.org, the all-state choir will perform at 1:15 p.m. Saturday, the 1-4A band will perform at 3 p.m., and the orchestra will perform at 4 p.m.

For more information about the event, visit www.ksmea.org.

A group of Fort Scott High School students who will perform at the Kansas Music Educator's Association state festival this weekend responded Wednesday to some questions for the Tribune. (note: Addison Brown was absent when students responded to the questions.)

* Why did you audition for the state ensemble?

Sercer, who has participated in the orchestra for the last eight years- "I enjoy playing in orchestra and I didn't make it the last two years, so I really wanted to make it this year."

Rooks, a band member for eight years- "I enjoy playing the saxophone."

Russell, a choir member since sixth grade- "To challenge myself and because I love music."

Singmaster, who has participated in choir for seven years- "I like to sing."

Carpenter, who has participated in choir since the sixth grade- "I love singing and I'm very passionate about music."

Drake, who has participated in choir for 12 years- "It is a great opportunity and not auditioning would have been high treason."

Clay, a choir participant since kindergarten- "Because I like to sing, and to get the three-year, state choir member medal."

Stucky, who has been involved with singing his whole life- "Because I love to sing, and it's a great opportunity."

Durbin, a choir participant since kindergarten- "I auditioned to have the experience of being in a group of individuals who are passionate for the art of music, as I am."

* How long did you practice for the audition?

Durbin- "I practiced probably 20 minutes a day for six days prior to the audition."

Stucky- "One month."

Clay- "About two weeks."

Drake- "Several weeks."

Carpenter- "Several weeks."

Singmaster- "Two weeks."

Russell- "Something like two weeks."

Rooks- "About six months."

Sercer- "Actually not as much as the last two years, but I wasn't as nervous this year, which helped me audition better."

* What are you most looking forward to from your performance this weekend?

Sercer- "I'm looking forward to playing good music with other musicians who are as good as me or better."

Rooks- "It is so enjoyable playing with other elite musicians. It is such a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Russell- "To learn a lot and have fun."

Singmaster- "Singing with other people who share my love of music."

Carpenter- "Improving my vocal music skills, meeting new people."

Drake- "Seeing people I met last year and learning from our clinician."

Clay- "Staying at the Hyatt and meeting the director."

Stucky- "Singing with some of the best musicians in the state."

Durbin- "I am anxious to sing with a group of extremely talented singers, and to create music that can reach people -- the goal for any performance, the entire reason why I have become so passionate for this activity."