By Eden Gentry

Staff Writer

    On September 26th, R.J. Reynolds High School chorus sent twelve students to audition for the North Carolina Honors Chorus, a competitive statewide chorus program. Out of those twelve students, two seniors, Apollo Jones and Nylah Lee, not only made the cut but scored first and eighth in the state.

    “Honors Chorus is a very competitive program, and it’s a great opportunity to be judged by all of these prestigious people who can help me improve my vocal journey,” Lee said

    When preparing for this audition, or any, the most important thing is simply to practice consistently whenever possible. Jones did just that by devoting time to practice every day since the summer and attending mock auditions with Mr. Settlemyre on Wednesdays for six weeks before the actual audition.

    “I started practicing in the summer right after school,” Jones said. “I practiced every day for two hours. I spent at least an hour on the piece and an hour on sight reading.”

    When choirs are judged, they are evaluated as a group for their tone quality, musicianship, knowledge of notes, text, technique, and sight singing. In Honors Chorus, although participants are judged on the same criteria, the process is individual, which means you have nobody to fall back on if you make a mistake.

    “It’s more stressful than other chorus things because you’re doing it by yourself,” Jones said. “You’re being adjudicated individually, and it’s really stressful because every single mistake that you make is a point against you. 
And even if you recover from your mistake, they’re still gonna write down that you made a mistake.”

    With Honors Chorus being such a high-stakes event, auditioning can be an incredibly intimidating and nerve-racking experience. For many students, the pressure of performing alone in front of a judge can feel overwhelming, but for Lee, finding the positives amid the stress made all the difference.

    “I was very nervous and scared,” Lee said. “We all went one at a time, so it was a little nerve-racking, but it was still fun because I was there with my friends.”

   After the audition, every participant goes to the Four Seasons Town Centre Mall in Greensboro and has a few hours to walk around and enjoy the rest of the day. After that, those who auditioned don’t find out if they got into Honors Chorus for a week.

    “I was very surprised that I was the best performing person out of every single alto two in the whole state,” Jones said, “That’s a crazy thing to just be told at two o’clock on a Thursday. I was shocked.”    In the end, the accomplishments of Jones and Lee represent not only their individual dedication and talent but also the strength and support of the RJR chorus program as a whole. Their success at Honors Chorus auditions highlights the power of hard work, consistent practice, and a love for music. Despite the nerves and high pressure of performing alone, both students rose to the challenge and excelled at a statewide level, showing what can be achieved through commitment and passion. Their achievements serve as an inspiration to their peers and a proud moment for the entire RJR community.