As Senior Blake Bratcher nervously prepared for his All-State Choir audition, he thought back to his All-Region audition that got him first chair first tenor back in October at Springdale High School. Now Bratcher was faced with new opponents five hours away at Ouochita Baptist University in Arkadelphia Feb. 3. Bratcher felt the pressure to perform just as well as he did at All-Region.

“I felt pressure to make first chair at All-State, but it was pressure I put on myself,” said Bratcher.

He spent every morning and everyday of the school week practicing and preparing for his day-long audition at All-Region. After all the hard work he put into this choir competition, Bratcher was delighted and surprised to hear that once again he had be placed as first chair, first tenor.

“I was extremely happy because of all the hours I put into practicing,” he said. “I was surprised by the fact that I was striving for first chairs and I succeeded.”

Everyone in choir is allowed to audition for All-Region, but only those who placed in the top 17 chairs were able to move on to tryout for a spot in the All-State choir. The auditions consisted of singing pre-selected parts of three pieces chosen by the judges. Pronunciation of words and rhythm of the pieces were a vital part.

“Singing the right notes was also important, of course,” said Bratcher.

Now that his auditions are completed, he is waiting for scholarships and staying hopeful that his chairs will earn him money for college.

“The time and effort and stress of auditions was totally worth it. The All-Region and All-State choir conventions are what I look forward to every year,” he said.