Student singers head to all-state chorus

RIVER CLUB — Ask Olivia Garland to sing, and she breaks into a tune without pausing to choose a song.
It’s already in her head, she says.

Olivia, a fourth-grader at Braden River Elementary School, moves in her seat as she belts out Meghan Trainor’s “I’m all about that base.”

Mia Merrell, Haley Dragon, Jaysa Molina and Madisyn Wandall join in momentarily.

The girls, all fourth- and fifth-grade students, recently were selected to the Florida All-State Chorus, which performs at the Florida Elementary Music Educators Association’s annual conference in January.

They, along with Bashaw Elementary student Hannah McFarland, are the only students from Manatee County to be selected to the 200-member chorus. About 750 children statewide auditioned.

“I’m not nervous,” Mia said. “If you mess up, the other people are there to cover you.”

Haley adds: “We have so much time to practice.”

Music teachers David Katz, at Braden River, and Barbara Sullivan, at Bashaw, recorded chorus auditions for the top five children at their respective schools, after completing chorus auditions at the school level.
Katz, who has held auditions for about nine years, said he is humbled to have all five of his students get into all-state.

“I’m very excited,” he said. “I’m so very privileged and I feel honored and humbled.”

Sullivan agreed.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to help audition these children,” Sullivan said. “The quality of the experience they receive to sing in a ballroom and work with a well renowned clinician (at the conference) is something I’m very excited for them to receive that opportunity.”

The teachers now will secure music for the all-state performance and begin rehearsals with their students.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].