Over 20,000 students from around the state are contending for the opportunity to participate in All-State Choir, but only 500 will obtain acceptance. This past weekend Raider Choir students competed in the first round of the audition process.

“The process of auditioning for All-State Choir involves many steps,” choir director Brenda Justice said. “Students have to successfully pass through many auditions.”

Eight Rouse students earned spots in the All-Region Choir. Those who qualified included Rachel DeMarco, Matthew Ison, A.J. Shaw, Kellin Powell, Jacob Price, Keaton Pugh, Reed Shuffield and Zareh Vartanian, who advanced to the next round of auditions later in November.

“It made me happy that our efforts all paid off,” DeMarco said. “It took a lot of dedication and help from the awesome choir teachers and my voice lesson teachers to make it there.”

The students devoted many hours of practice to prepare for the competition, which the Texas Music Educators Association call the highest honor a Texas music student can receive.

“It was a wonderful feeling to advance,” DeMarco said. “Getting to the next level means I’ll be able to mature as a choral member and contribute even more to choir.”

All-Region Choir consists of the top 20 singers in each voice part in the region. Students  will spend one day working on their literature and pronunciation with a well-known conductor, and perform a show Nov. 11, at 5 p.m., which is free for the community.

“I’m so proud of our Rouse students,” Justice said. “The literature is difficult, and our region is extremely competitive. They truly are the best of the best to have earned this distinction.”