Sikeston students tune up for state's vocal events

SIKESTON - Area high school choir students are putting their vocal chords to the test lately.

Sikeston High School students, senior Justin Griffin and junior Ashley Ray, have received high honors for their singing talents. Griffin was chosen to be in the All-State Choir and Ray will attend the Missouri Fine Arts Academy.

"I was shocked and excited when I heard the news that I was chosen," Ray said. "I did my video audition in one take. That's how much I didn't think I would get in."

While the two achievements, All-State Choir and Missouri Fine Arts Academy, are different, both require difficult application processes and hard work.

To make All-State Choir, Griffin said he first had to try out for districts in September. Then in November, at districts in Cape Girardeau, he tried out for state-level participation.

Griffin said out of approximately 130 students, 16 were chosen to perform in the state concert. Four students are chosen for each section - tenor, alto, soprano and bass. Also, one alternate is selected for each section, making 20 total students selected.

Ray on the other hand, completed her auditions in one giant step. After being nominated by the school, Ray began the process of applying to the Missouri Fine Arts Academy, which is located at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield. Ray was required to fill out a lot of paperwork consisting of essays and applications and to get recommendations from teachers. To complete the process, she had to videotape herself singing and send it in with the rest of her paperwork.

She doesn't know how many students applied for the academy, but she does know she was one of the 220 students selected.

Most people get nervous before an audience, and Griffin and Ray are no exception. They both admit to getting nervous before performing. "Your heart is pumping and your adrenaline is rushing because its exciting," Ray said.

"The waiting process (before performing) is a killer," Griffin added.

Griffin spent Jan. 23-26 at Tan-Tar-A at Osage Beach where he performed in a concert with the All-State Choir. To prepare for the event, the All-State Choir practiced during the first three weeks of January.

Although Griffin's wait is over, Ray's has yet to come. This summer, from June 9-29, she will spend three weeks at Southwest Missouri State University for the academy learning about singing, dancing and art.

Nora Fuchs, Sikeston High School choir director, said she is very excited and happy for her students. "I feel very lucky and very fortunate to have had at least one student each year in the past few years make All-State or be chosen for Missouri Fine Arts Academy," she said.

Other students from the area selected for All-State Choir were Amanda Eades of Scott City High School and Dustin Hampton of Dexter High School. Elise Young, also of Dexter High School, was selected to the Missouri Fine Arts Academy, too.