Plainview High School’s choir department won the UIL regional solo and ensemble competition this month.
Chief choir director Jennie Hsu said her team performed well and ended the day with 20 Premier League soloists and three Premier League ensembles earning those participants a trip. in the state competition.
“These students, soloists and ensemble students will travel to Austin in late May for the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Competition,” Hsu said.
To earn a Division 1 rating, participants must perform and master a Category 1 piece of music, which means it must be a difficult piece, she said. Students can perform pieces that vary in difficulty, but only those performing selections of the most difficult level can earn a Division One performance rating.
“Division One means a top grade,” she explained.
Hsu is proud that given the opportunity to choose, the majority of her choir students have voluntarily chosen to perform pieces eligible for this rating level.
Another factor that contributes to the degree of difficulty and makes their Division One ratings more impressive is language, she noted. Students must memorize selections in a foreign language such as Latin, German, or French, to name a few. It’s not easy to take it to the next level, she pointed out.
In a continuing break from years of traditional pageant hosting, the judge actually came to Plainview High School to watch the contestants perform.
Although the competition is divided into categories of solos and ensembles, participants can enter both – and many Hsu students have done so. Her team includes students from all high school levels.
Hsu is in her first year as chief choir director and her third overall with Plainview High School’s choir department after serving the previous two years as assistant director. This year, his assistant choir director is Ian Klotzman who is in his first year with PHS.
With the regional competition behind them, Hsu and his choir are looking forward to May to show off what they can do.
Choir members who have advanced include:
Seniors
Jordan Wallace
Sophie Cain
Kylie Carter
Zachary Collins
Cassidy Delgado
Eyanha Garcia
Skyler Garcia
Caleb Geyer
Alex Gomez
Kenzi Knippa
maciel daisy
Landon Mooney
Emmalee Tavarez
Avery Moudy
junior
Cynthia Belmares
Xzavier Chavez
Zachary Franklin
Lilian Leatherman
Cielo Morales
Amery Watters
Second year students
Dalton Henderson
cooper wild
Mackenzie Sims
Freshmen
Ethan Aguire
AJ Alcozer
Javi Campos
landri nelson
Cameron Plant
