With the annual All-State choir auditions occurring Oct. 25, many high school students took on the competition for a chance to impress judges and share their voices in hopes to receive a recall. Once a recall is earned, singers return for the final performance on Nov. 22. Out of cantus, 28 student singers, seven quartet, competed at All-State.

“All-State is basically when the entire state, everyone in choir, gets to learn the same nine songs,” All-State performer Haley Daughhetee said. “We prepare all of it, then get cuts the day of the audition, measure to measure.” All-State competitors will learn a total of nine full songs, but only perform 20-30 seconds of each song. Once a performance has occurred, singers can advance automatically, get a recall, or not make it at all. “Your director gets a list of recalls, and if you get a recall, you go back and perform for the judges by yourself.” Daughhetee said.

Before a quartet is ready to compete, they spend many hours working on their music. “We practice before and after school a lot, and everyday we have choir as a class,” Daughhetee said. “We also get separate practice times.”

Senior All-State performer Michaela Davis said there was much work put into All-State. “We would have practice everyday in choir and then a couple practices outside of school a week.” These singers also have to endure working through day-long camps throughout the summer in hopes of making All-State.

“I do encourage the students to attend an All-State camp in the summer,” choir director Samantha Robilliard said. “But eventually the quartets are solidified and it is up to them to practice outside of choir time.” Though these singers take very much advice and critique from Robillard, there is a lot of self motivation behind every one these student-singers.

These student-singers, however, are gaining more than just a place at All-State. “Even though it is great to have kids accepted into All-State, ultimately that is not what it is all about,” Robillard said. “The process to All-State is amazing because the students learn to be independent singers and their musicianship grows. All-State is my favorite time of the year because I feel like individually there is a ton of growth.”

Not only are the students growing individually, they are make memories in the process. “It’s always funny to see people laying on the ground (at the competition) all cuddled up waiting for their turn,” Davis said. “Us Johnston kids, well we played with play dough and colored in coloring books all day. That’s always fun. And I can’t forget us playing cards and getting way into games of Catch Phrase,” Davis said.