The Kilgores: doing things the hard way since 1994

Taylor's Opus Honor Choir performance was yesterday at Iowa State in Ames. Music, choral and instrumental, is exteremly popular in Iowa and there is amazing talent here in the schools. All State is a competition for 10-12 graders to compete against the best in the state for a place in the All State Choir, Band or Orchestra. Thousands across the state try out for about 1,200 spots. My dad went to All State in the 1960's (he's still very proud of that) and the thought of having a granddaughter to have the opportunity to do the same makes him giddy. Well, if you know my dad, giddy isn't something he does, but you get the point.

Opus started about 20 years ago, I'm assuming to help prepare younger students for the All State competition. In August, Taylor signed up for try-outs at her school; in Sept she sent in her audition tape; and in Oct she found out she was 1 of 4 girls at her school that was accepted into the choir (she's the only 7th grader). Her vocal director worked before and after school with them; the music was very challenging and all had to be memorzed AND two pieces weren't even in English, one in Spanish, one in Italian.

Taylor got to spend the day at Iowa State practicing with the Opus diretor and their concert was yesterday afternoon. AMAZING. BEAUTIFUL. OUTSTANDING. We are so proud of her. What a phenomenal job these kids did. There are 4 honor choirs: 5th & 6th grade mixed, 7th & 8th grade boys, 7th & 8th grade girls, and 9th grade mixed. She was one of the 170 best female 7th and 8th grade voices in Iowa. Pretty cool.

The picture is terrible, but Taylor is in the front row, a few down from the guy with the sweet beard playing the drums (he is not a 7th or 8th grade girl). While Taylor's group had the most challenging music, our favorite performace had to be the 7th and 8th grade boys.

Taylor's chorus concert was last week. Anyone who is not in band or orchestra MUST sing in the choir, regardless of talent, willingness or desire to do so. Most boys at this age think that singing in a school choir significantly reduces their cool quotient; therefore, they make it very clear through body gestures and other noises that don't resemble singing that they would rather be just about anywhere other than on stage performing.

BTW, at said concert, Taylor had a solo in "Let the River Run" During the transition from band concert to chorus, the mikes were not turned on. So, sweet Taylor belted it out and I could hear her all the way in the back where I was standing holding Owen, who like the boys in the chorus, would have preferred to be anywhere other than that concert.

Owen did, however, do quite well at the performance last night. Our seats were almost dead center in a packed house (about 2,500). It was kind of like flying on a plane, when you're boarding you look around for someone, please someone, to have a baby that will be louder, fusier and more obnoxious than yours. There were maybe 3 babies in the whole auditorium, one in my row whose parents somehow had a coveted aisle seat. Owen was trooper and LOVED the 2,500 people clapping, as if just for him.

OK. Proud, gushing mama is done now.