Do re mi
Park Version auditions
On Tuesday, April 11, choir students who had been accepted into Lads and Lassies auditioned for the small ensemble known as Park Version. Directed by Natalie Walker, this group of 19 students, sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses, are known for their all acapella performances at choir concerts and community events.
Park Version is hard to get into. The only requirement to audition is to be in Lads and Lassies, which will have 75 students in the 2018-2019 school year. Many of the students who do the rigorous audition process do not succeeded because Park Version is a small group with spots already given to returning members.
“The audition process consists of around a two minute audition,” junior member of Park Version Apsaline Douglas said. “You do one minute of each piece – you do a classical style piece and you do a Broadway/pop style piece.”
The preparation for both songs are done outside of class and on the students’ own time. Most students use the classical piece they learned for Solo and Ensemble, a competition held in February. Every auditioning student then performs both pieces for Natalie Walker, head choir director, and Neal Patel, the assistant director. Once the audition is done, the waiting begins for the results, which are usually released at the beginning of May or end of April.
Park Version is not just about singing, but performing as well. It is important for the group to look animated and exude character while they are singing. Part of the audition focuses on this by splitting the students trying out into mixed groups to sing and dance together.
The goal of the auditions is to bring new voices in after the seniors leave, as the group currently only has juniors and seniors in it. However, those who are returning to Park Version also have an audition process. The returning members have to re-audition so they can see how the voices balance together.
Although most years, the list comes out in early May, the 2018-2019 members were announced April 20. Good luck to the 2018-2019 group.
11
What is your position on the Bagpipe:
Staffer
What is your go-to snack:
Chips
What is your favorite tv show to binge watch:
The Crown
What are you most excited to get out of Bagpipe this year:
I'm excited about becoming a better writer and getting better at understanding the style of journalistic writing.
In what are you involved at HP:
I am in choir and music theory
What is your dream job:
Reporter
What is your favorite song or style of music:
Classic Rock
What is a fun fact about yourself that not everyone knows:
I rock climb
Where is the coolest place you have visited:
Countryside of England
What is one skill at which you were better:
Singing or public speaking
What is your ideal pet:
Either a basset hound or a dachshund
What is your favorite class this year:
English IIIAP-TAG
Where do you want to go to college:
SMU
What is your favorite news source:
Reuters
What is the best piece of advice you have received so far:
Winter is coming
If you could attend any major event, which would you choose:
A David Bowie concert