Choir class is much more than just singing and reading music for our varsity choir.

This class has not only made them realize how to use their voices as group, but has also helped them discover their passion for singing.

They said it’s allowed them to grow more confident as musicians.

“It’s just this overwhelming sense of passion and happiness that I feel, when I sing. It’s like I’m going to go out there and I’m going to accomplish whatever I want to because I know that I can do it,” junior William McKean said.

The confidence they’ve received has helped them with their performances.  

“I feel a rush like how athletes feel during sports when they win. I get a rush performing and trying to perfect what I’m singing,” senior Adam Marsh said.

“I can’t get enough of performing or enough of letting myself loose and showing people what I can do…I want to show everyone what I can do musically because it’s a part of who I am. It’s a representation of my soul and my being and so choir is an extension of that,” McKean said.

The students aren’t the only ones that fell in love with choir.

Choir director Robert Draper fell in love with everything about music after joining choir in a very interesting way.

“I followed a pretty girl down the hallway and she went into choir. And so I went to the counselor and changed my schedule. I was terrible at it and had no business being there, but immediately I was impacted by the music and ultimately I became to love to music and couldn’t stop,” he said.

He soon brought his love for choir and music into the classroom in order to help his students fall in love with music and get better for competition.

“It shouldn’t be about last minute sprint but a slow steady progress throughout the year. They get better and better every day so I keep encouraging them to take what they’ve learned yesterday and make it better today.”

All of the confidence they’ve received this year has given these choir students the motivation to walk away with a one in UIL.

Make sure to come support choir during UIL on April 11th through 12th at Newman Smith High School.