The 2024 Choir Contest

By James Burkhalter

Picture of The Owasso Choir (3rd hour) taken by Mindy Bettridge

The Owasso Choir has been preparing for the OSSAA choir contest throughout the second semester. Each student had four pieces of music to learn, two for the Mixed chorus and two for their respective sectional choir (Tenor/Bass or Treble). For the past four months, choir students have worked diligently to perfect each of their four pieces to earn a one. OSSAA operates on a 1-5 grading scale, one being the best a choir can receive and five being the worst. Owasso excelled in each category available to them, earning them the Accent Award, which was given to choirs for receiving a superior rating from each judge on Concert Performance and Sightreading. This makes the third year in a row Owasso has brought the Accent Award home.

The Treble Chorus pieces “Jenny” and “How Can I Keep from Singing” were very emotional selections, causing the director and many students to tear up every time they sang it. Each judge commented about how impressed they were with the advanced techniques utilized in their songs, some mentioning in passing how high Owasso had raised the bar. This resulted in a superior rating in Concert Performance. While the Owasso Choir has been rehearsing for the OSSAA contest for the second semester, they have been practicing sight reading throughout the school year. This preparedness guided the Treble Chorus to another superior rating.

“I think that we did well…I felt confident when doing “Jenny” and [“How Can I Keep from Singing”],” said Darci Roberts, a soprano in the Treble Chorus.

Picture of The Owasso Treble Chorus directed by Tricia Wynn taken by Rebecca Robinson

The Tenor/Bass choir’s pieces were very diverse in their themes. “I Cannot Count the Stars,” a ballad similar to “How Can I Keep from Singing,” amazed the judges with its remarkable consonants, phrasing, and yet again, the complex methods used by the choir. Their second piece, “My Good Lord,” is an upbeat spiritual that received all the same praise from the judges. Their sight reading was also graded with flying colors, highlighting their proficiency in the area.

“I’ve been section leader since sophomore year and [that] helps me by dealing with my section for so long,” states Juanpablo Alvarez-Pinedo, the Tenor sight reading and section leader.

Picture of The Owasso Tenor/Bass Choir directed by Mindy Bettridge taken by Rebecca Robinson

Confidence emanated from the stage as each Owasso choir sang. Each student had faith in themselves and the excellent direction they had from all of their teachers. The first of the Mixed Chorus’ pieces, “We Are the Music Makers,” relied on this confidence to tell its story. “We Are the Music Makers” is about the pure joy of singing and having the ability to create music and share it. This joy boils to the surface in the final song performed by the Mixed Chorus, “Muié Rendera,” a popular Brazilian folk song, riddled with exultations. The Owasso Choir finished with joy in their heart and an impressive victory. 

Picture of The Owasso Mixed Choir directed by Mindy Bettridge taken by Rebecca Robinson