After a few months of preparation, on Friday, Feb. 22 students taking private voice lessons at school performed at the 2020 University Interscholastic League (UIL) Region 26 Vocal Solo and Ensemble Contest at Pflugerville High School. A majority of the participants are part of the choir program but others performed as well. Ultimately, several students received excellent scores for their performances. For Solo and Ensemble, there is a range of solo difficulties with Class 1 being the most advanced and difficult pieces. Students receiving a superior 1C rating while performing a Class 1 solo advance to State Solo and Ensemble.

Prior to their individual performances, students huddled together, warming up their voices and conversing with one another, ready but nervous to perform. Performers sang their pieces for a judge during their time slots and a pianist accompanied them. Students from other high schools participated in the competition as well.

“I really enjoyed solo-ensemble this year because it gave us the opportunity to focus on our music as an individual or a small ensemble. It was really cool to sing a piece that we ourselves got to pick and present it in front of a music educator,” Apoorva Gobburu ‘22 said. “I also had a lot of fun spending time with my friends and we got to sing for each other our music. Overall, it was super fun.”

A total of 20 students advanced to state and 11 solos earned a Division I superior rating. In general, the results showed soloists from freshmen to seniors showing off their hard work and dedication to music. 

“I really loved my song this year so even though I was really nervous to sing I’m really happy that I got to be a part of the process and it feels really good now that I’m done,” Rosie Deal ‘22 said. “I worked really hard for Solo and Ensemble so I’m really excited that I have the opportunity to sing again at State especially because I really like my song.”

The results of the competition can be found at here. State Solo and Ensemble will occur in May at UT Austin. Choir’s Pre-UIL concert will take place on February 27 prior to the much anticipated and prepared for UIL event on March 9-10 at Georgetown High School.