Friday, April 26, 2024
One program at Gatesville Independent School District that is hitting all the high notes is the choir program, which has increased in numbers and achievements and had two of its students earn All State honors this year.
During the Aug. 15 GISD Board of Trustees meeting, 2022 graduate Addie Carpenter and sophomore Memphis Wells were recognized during the Student Spotlight.
Carpenter and Wells were named GISD Vocalists of the Year, and in addition to winning gold medals at state, have outstanding grades and have helped set the standard for excellence for GISD choirs from grades 6-12.
"It's a remarkable accomplishment, like being a state champion," said GISD Superintendent Barrett Pollard.
"It's pretty remarkable to have two students do so well in one school year, and I'm very proud of them," said GISD Choir Director Cherith Wells. She said Addie and Memphis both received the same gold medal that state champion athletes receive.
While Memphis and Addie were the headline performers for Gatesville High School, they were in good company with several other students who achieved excellence in vocal contests.
Wells and Tim Klingler, GISD associate choir director, have helped lay the foundation for tremendous success in vocal performance.
"I spend a lot of time with these people and they are phenomenal," said GISD board President Charles Ament. He encouraged GISD board members and staff to "take a detour, visit (choir rooms) and you will be stunned at what you see."
Wells said the enthusiasm, dedication and work ethic of the students enrolled in choir is key to maintaining the department's tradition of excellence.
"We have classes full of amazing kids," she said. "I lived in Texas my whole life and I was in choir. Of all the things on the list those kids (Addie and Memphis) accomplished, the only one I accomplished was being named outstanding choir student.
"To have those kids do that in Gatesville, Texas – it's amazing. They are a huge inspiration to our program."
Wells and Klingler teach choir to students in grades 6 through 12, and over the past few years have seen a strong upsurge in the number of students participating in choir.
"The program has doubled in size at the intermediate school," Wells said. "We only had 26 students at the junior high (in choir) in 2018, and now we're up to 70. High school has held steady around the 60-mark. We do a great job of retaining students and also recruiting new ones."
In the spring, GHS had 12 regional medalists, with 11 earning gold and another earning silver. In state vocal competition, five earned gold and one was a silver medalist.
The varsity mixed choir (featuring both boys and girls) earned a superior rating in University Interscholastic League competition, while the varsity treble choir (consisting of girls only) earned the first ever sweepstakes for GHS in chorale competition – meaning perfect scores, Wells said.
At the junior high level, two students were selected to the Texas Music Educators Association Region Choir and one earned All State honors.
Intermediate students participated in the Pride of Texas Music Festival. Wells said more than 50 students in grades 6-12 participated in solo work.
The choirs had a pop concert with music from the 1980s that sold all available tickets, and this school year the emphasis will be on music from movies.
While the choir program had a strong year for 2021-22, "we have 50 more kids in choir this year than we had last year," Wells said.
"We had a spectacular year – it was one achievement after another," she said. "It's a testament to the type of kids we have in the program."
Board member Jimmie Ferguson said he appreciates all the effort that goes into the choir program.
"Y'all are enthusiastic and excellent at what you do," he said.
Wells said just being around the choirs can help brighten people's day.
"If you're ever having a bad day, swing by the choir room," she said.
