4 TPA students auditioning for All-Regional Choir

By Annie Goodykoontz

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected nearly every part of Tempe Prep this year – including the All-Regional Choir tryouts.

From left, seniors Lizzie Turley, Clara Moffitt and Kylie Klassen are joined this year by junior Maeve Jastrzebski in All-Regional competition.

“This year is definitely different,” said Kylie Klassen, a Tempe Prep senior who is participating again this year, as are seniors Lizzie Turley and Clara Moffitt. In addition, junior Maeve Jastrzebski is auditioning for the first time.

Kylie explained some of the differences. “Regionals are all virtual this year,” Kylie said. “We will send in recordings of our individual parts, but there will still be a virtual festival.”

But some things remain the same. “I have been preparing since the end of October for Regionals,” Kylie said. “I sight read almost every day and sing my solo a lot. The people who are auditioning have been meeting in the mornings both virtually and in-person to prepare together.”

Kylie is singing “Die Lotosblume.”

Auditions begin Feb. 1, and the virtual festival takes place on March 20.

Even though the singers can’t get together as often to practice and perform, Kylie looks on the bright side on an experience that “will be challenging, but (it’s) amazing that we can still participate!”