Sophomore Eric Johnson makes it to All-State choir

By Maya Kostov
TPA has instituted a new policy where you can actually earn a letter, a grade, in Cantamus and Orchestra. The requirements are that you are present for 90 percent of rehearsals and that you audition for Regionals.
Regionals is a very prestigious competition for students in high school, whether it is singing or playing an instrument. In Cantamus, many people auditioned, but only Joseph Campbell, Clara Moffitt, Eric Johnson, and David Smith got in. Lizzie Turley made it to Regionals orchestra.

Eric Johnson, who portrayed Mr. Bingley in the school production of Pride and Prejudice, has made it to All-State choir.

For Regionals, you choose a solo and you work on it, along with reviewing and practicing your sight-reading skills. This helps students learn more about music theory and gives them more confidence when singing at regionals. There you sing your solo and receive comments and critiques, and the judges rate your solo based on phrasing, musicality, pitch, rhythm, and expression, with the highest score you can earn on that portion being a 60.
Then the competition moves on to sight singing, the hardest and most essential part of the competition. The judges give you three lines of music and 15 seconds to look at it, and then give you the tonic triad and you have to sing the notes. The first line is major, the second is minor, and the last one is usually in 6/8 time with accidentals. Then you get what is known as a block and contrapuntal.
The judges play the notes for all parts except for your own and you have to sing your part. You must find the key and the note that you start on, as well as keep with the rhythm and pitch of your own part.
Ninth grader Clara Moffitt says, “It’s tough, but in my mind it’s easier than a single line because it’s more musical and you have the other parts to build chords off of. Working with such amazing and talented musicians is so valuable and I’ve learned so much about being in a choir.”
Getting into Regionals is a very valuable thing for scholarships and to put on college resumes and theatre resumes as well. After regionals, there is another competition called All-State.
Sadly, not everyone who made it into Regionals made it to All-State, except for 10th grader Eric Johnson. Congrats to Eric on his amazing accomplishment!