By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist
Athens High School is a musical powerhouse. Submitted as evidence: During the Jan. 10 UIL Area Competition, four students earned all-state honors.
In band, sophomore Kolemann Dooley was named first-chair euphonium, and sophomore Russell Ingram was named first-chair trumpet. In choir, freshman Jacob Moore was selected as first-chair bass, and sophomore Logan Dooley as second-chair bass. (Kolemann and Logan are not related.) In addition, sophomore Felicity Walter was named second-alternate alto.
“In band and choir, there are several rounds of competition,” explained Band Director Rusty Lay. “We compete with 1A through 4A schools throughout our region, which spans much of East Texas. The first few chairs advance to the area round, which we had on Saturday.”
This year is the first year the choir competition has been divided between small schools and large schools, as has long been the practice with band, rather than having 1A schools compete against 6A schools. “It levels the playing field,” said Choir Director Bridget Scott. “It’s a good thing.”
Both Scott and Lay credit their students’ high levels of dedication for their success in competition.
“(Kolemann and Russell) are obviously both very musically talented, but you have to have the dedication to go along with the talent. One without the other is not enough,” said Lay. “Most every day, you can find one or the other of them practicing before school or after. … To make it as far as they have is very special.”
Echoing Lay’s words, Scott noted that Jacob and Logan “came in multiple times on their own time. They practiced so much … afternoon after afternoon going over the music.” The two choral pieces selected for area auditions were “The Sounding Sea” and “Cedit, Hyems,” which feature unusual rhythms, chords and harmonies. To make it even more challenging, “Cedit, Hyems” (translated Be Gone, Winter) is sung entirely in Latin.
“I’m really proud of them,” said Scott. “They earned it; it didn’t get handed to them.”
All four students will perform Feb. 14 in San Antonio, on the last day of the Texas Music Educators Association Convention. There are approximately 150 students in the 4A All-State Band 112 singers in the Small School All-State Choir.