Music was certainly in the area last week, with area high schools competing at the OSSAA state competitions for concert band and choir. The band and choir from Chandler High School walked away with superior ratings in all categories, earning them sweepstakes awards.
Additionally, North Rock Creek also received a sweepstakes award for their band.
“I’m so excited and proud of our students for winning the Sweepstakes two years in a row,” said CHS band director Rachel Karger. “These kiddos are on fire for music and their efforts have paid off in a big way.”
The band competed on Mar. 26 in Ada at East Central University.
Trinity Holland, choir director at Chandler High School, said both the mixed and treble choirs received ones, or superior ratings, on stage and in sight reading, which qualified them for sweepstakes.
“When we got our sweepstakes award, they told us we were the first ones to get it that day. So that was very exciting,” she said, adding that Chandler performed towards the end of the contest day. “I’m very proud of all of the work that they’ve put into it.”
This was North Rock Creek’s first year attending state for concert band, according to director and middle school principal Ron Potter.
“It was a great day and our kids are thrilled,” he said.
The band received a superior for stage performance and sight reading—firsts for their young program. Since they also received a superior in marching band in the fall, this qualified them for the OSSAA Sweepstakes Award. “Which I refer to as the ‘Triple Crown’ when I’m explaining it to our kids and parents,” Potter said.