Singing may seem easy at surface level, but in reality, it requires a lot of skill to pull off well. Only the best of the best in the middle school can make it into select singing groups at KO, and it can come with some pressure.
Eighth grade singer Riley Anderson made it into the all girls select choir, the Octopipers, and really enjoys how much fun it is to sing with others. “Sometimes we can get a little off task, but when we make music it’s really awesome,” she said.
Riley Anderson also really enjoys her director, Mr. Steven Mitchell. “He makes it fun, He’s one of those teachers where if you make a joke, he doesn’t get mad,” she said.
Even though Riley Anderson loves singing with her group and having fun, she also appreciates stepping in the spotlight and showing off. “[Solos are] very scary, but singing has always been an ‘on my own’ kind of thing.”
But F2B, the other Select singing group, which is all guys, may have a different atmosphere. Eighth grader Riley Mapp really enjoys the atmosphere and tried out because he likes singing “I just like singing in general. It’s a singing group and I love singing, so why not give it a shot,” he said.
Riley Mapp also likes the music he and his group sing. “I really don’t mind what kind of music I sing, as long as the parts are fun and make interesting harmonies,” he said.
The director, choral teacher Mr. Mitchell loves teaching his students and watching them grow, and he has experience with both select singing groups and how to run them. “I look at the choral classroom as a benevolent dictatorship. I can help the process, but in the end, It’s my rule or nothing,” he said.
He also sometimes struggles to keep the groups focused while having fun. “Sometimes I might err too much on the fun side because it’s after school and my students are tired from the day,” he said.
These different perspectives demonstrate how select singing groups function and flow. Middle School students, watch out for a performance in the coming assemblies by F2B and Octopipers.
