By SALLY SEXTON
Cassandra “Cassie” Kirby was always interested in music, singing in her church choir and taking piano lessons during her childhood.
That passion and hard work has propelled Cassie to one of the biggest stages in high school choir, as the Weatherford High School senior will be representing the Roos as part of the Texas All-State Choir in San Antonio beginning today.
“It’s been awesome,” Kirby said of the repeat success. “I love going down there [to San Antonio.] I’ve met a lot of good friends that I can’t wait to see.
“It’s very exciting, but it’s also a little bittersweet because I wish some of my friends who tried out here could go with me.”
Kirby, a Soprano I, was one of 500 selected to perform in All-State Choir, competing at the district, region and state levels to earn the accomplishment.
“There are four sets of auditions and tens of thousands of other singers,” she said. “I had to compete against tens of thousands of other singers.”
Kirby says her love for singing comes from that “goosebump moment.”
“I’ve only had that feeling maybe three times in my life,” she said of the sensation. “It’s that moment where everybody is on the same page and the choral structure is perfect.”
Kirby will spend four days in San Antonio. She said she has been looking forward to the experience.
“We spend anywhere from eight to 10 hours a day practicing, and the rest of the time, you’re pretty much on your own,” she said. “You can eat out on the Riverwalk and have fun with your friends, then the next day you’re up early singing.
“Saturday is the big concert.”
Singers aren’t the only ones present at the state competition, which also caters to concert and jazz bands and orchestras.
“The majority of people there are band people,” Kirby said. “There are also hundreds of exhibits, with every instrument you could think of.”
The experience is something Kirby plans to add to her resume to pursue a future in music. The Weatherford senior has already been accepted to Texas Christian University’s music school as well as to the University of North Texas.
“I’d like to major in music education and eventually get my master’s and doctorate in music,” she said.
For the All-State concert schedule and conductor information, go to www.tmea.org/convention.
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