MPHS Chorale Members Earn Superior Ratings, Advance to State

State Solo & Ensemble (l-r): Jonathan Swiger, Abby Sneed, Ashlee Stoffel, Migel Guerrero, Andrew Patino, Lauren Southerland, Alyssa Reynolds and Colton Craft

Twenty-five Mount Pleasant High School Chorale members competed at the Regional UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest and 14 earned Superior ratings. Eight of them advanced to the State level, six for the first time. 

State qualifiers include Colton Craft (Junior), Migel Guerrero (Freshman), Andrew Patino (Junior), Alyssa Reynolds (Junior), Lauren Southerland (Junior), Abby Sneed (Senior), Ashlee Stoffel (Junior) and Jonathan Swiger (Freshman). Reynolds and Sneed are competing at State Solo and Ensemble for the third year in a row. Freshmen Guerrero and Swiger and Juniors Craft, Patino, Southerland and Stoffel are competing for the first time.

Those who earned a “1” Superior rating on their solos but not advancing to State are Jilliann Baker (Sophomore), Elisabet Juarez (Sophomore), Lizeth Martinez (Freshman), Bethany Moreno (Junior), Ashley Noble (Sophomore) and Cristina Olvera (Sophomore).

To qualify for the state solo and ensemble contest, a student must score a “1” (the top score) on a Class 1 solo, the most difficult to memorize and perform. Each student performs a cappella (without any instrumental assistance) before a panel of judges. 

“This is a voluntary contest for the students that involves preparation outside of the regular rehearsal period,” explained MPHS Choir Director Luke Dean. “Mrs. Deanna Warren and I worked with them and helped them prepare. This is a great opportunity for the singers as it gives us a time to focus on their individual voice, rather than their sound in an ensemble. With so many of these students returning, next year MPHS should have a strong showing.”

The state contest will be held Memorial Day weekend at the UT Austin campus and involves around 25,000 vocal, band, and orchestra contestants from across Texas.

Regional Choir (l-r): Elisabet Juarez, Jilliann Baker, Cristina Olvera, Bethany Moreno, Lizeth Martinez and Ashley Noble