The Early ISD choral students brought home top honors when they participated in the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest held at Southwest High School in Fort Worth, Texas, on Tuesday, April 8, 2014.

In order to earn a rating of “sweepstakes,” choirs must be awarded a superior rating for their stage performance and also be awarded a superior rating for their sight-reading efforts.  Each of the three choirs entered from Early ISD were required to sing choral literature from a state prescribed list of selections.  Three judges rated each of those efforts.

The three choirs then had to move to a different location where three different judges rated them on their sight-reading capabilities.    All three of the choirs from Early ISD earned a Sweepstakes trophy.

Choirs who were entered from Early and the corresponding choral literature that they performed are:  Concert Choir (Mixed SATB) – All Things Bright and Beautiful (John Rutter), There is a Ladye (Purcell/Siltman), and And Wherever You Go (Wagner)  Treble Choir (SSA) – In Time of Silver Rain (Snyder), Illumina Oculos Meos (Palestrina/Leavitt), and Ah, Holy Jesus (Cruger/Jennings), and Tenor-Bass Choir (TBB) – I’m Bound Away (Patterson), Red River Valley (Crockett/Leavitt), and We Shall Not Sleep (Farnell).  All groups were categorized as varsity groups.

In addition, three instrumentalists joined the choirs – Andrew Barker (cello), Elizabeth Kirkendoll (oboe), and Dr. Allen G. Reed, piano accompanist for the Early choirs. The choirs are under the direction of Freida Davis, Early Middle School Choir Director, and Judy C. Reed, Director of Choral Activities for the Early Independent School District.