On Monday, Oct. 6, Chapman High School’s Chorus traveled to Columbia for All-State auditions. The All-State process is intense and disciplined, and it takes a lot of dedication, hard work and time according to senior Maddie Mayfield.

“In preparation for All-State auditions, we have a lot of extra rehearsals,” Mayfield said. “The audition song is pretty much all we sing for a solid month, Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, Tuesday afternoons and Monday nights, too.”

Choir director Rebecca Rostron says that there are many things that have to be done in order to prepare for these auditions.

“We focus on music literacy a lot. Students sight read nearly every day,” Rostron said. “Then, we start the song the spring before and once we finally narrow down who is actually auditioning, the students go through a series of informal auditions themselves and sing in front of their peers.”

While the music is difficult, for most of the people auditioning, it’s not the most challenging part.

“After making it last year, it felt like the pressure had doubled for me to make it again this year. No one else had put it on me.  It was unnecessary pressure I put on myself,” Mayfield said. “It takes hard work that often goes unseen, but my experience at All-State weekend made me want it that much more.”

Senior Skyler Dunning has auditioned all three years he was able to, but this year was different from the rest.
“I was most worried about missing it by two points again like I did the past two years,” Dunning said. “I feel extremely happy and blessed to make it to this prestigious level in my choral experience.”

This year, nine people from Chapman were selected for All-State chorus.

“I am so excited that I don’t even have words,” Rostron said. “I feel really, really blessed, but know that even if you didn’t make it, it’s not a bad thing. Use it to grow as a musician and in your confidence.”

The nine students that made All-State include Maddie Mayfield, soprano one; Emma Phillips, alto; Skyler Dunning, bass; Will Thorne, bass; Alexander Shamp, tenor; Ella Brown, soprano one; Michaela Seifert, soprano two; Enajah McCluney, tenor and Elliott Phillips, bass.