Recently, Fresno Christian director Michael Ogdon has selected seven students to participate in the honor choir for the Fresno Madera County Music Educators Association (FMCMEA), Feb. 13 in Reedley, CA. The students will be performing under director Charlene Archibeque of San Jose University.

The vocalists were selected to perform by director Michael Ogdon to represent FC. Seniors Tyler Combs, Aaron Kroeker, Daniel Hopper and Alexandrah Aleman, along with juniors Connor Gibes, Jessica Massie and sophomore Trevor York will be participate. Before the students perform there will be two rehearsals, Feb. 12 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Clovis East High School and Feb.13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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“This is Fresno Christian’s first invitation to participate in FMCMEA,” Ogdon said. “The students will learn a great deal with Charlene, she is an amazing director. The choir consists of about 300 students from all across the valley to perform. It’s an honor to be chosen.”

After beginning in choir, many students have followed a progression capped with an honor choir experience.

“This is my second year in choir. I use to sing in an octave [too] low, but now I’m a low bass. In 8th grade I was encouraged to join choir because when we read poems aloud I actually sang out the Davy Crocket poem,” Gibes said. “Mrs. [Hallie] Rojeski suggested that I should join choir and so I did.

“I enjoy choir so I sign up for as much as possible, and I was chosen [for honor choir] probably because we don’t have many guys in choir. I’m still learning all the notes, but I can definitely sing better than I [used to].

Many long-time singers enjoy the challenges honor choir presents while expressing their artistic side.

“I’ve done honor choir for six years,” Aleman said. “I really enjoy it because the students [involved] want to challenge themselves to become better musicians. Everyone wants to be there — they are not forced to [attend].”

Despite participating in several different choirs over the years, Aaron Kroeker, ’10, says honor choir is an ultimate experience.

“I think the honor choir is cool,” Aaron Kroeker, ’10, said. “I’ve been in choir for eight years and take any chance to be in multiple choirs. Over the years the hard work has paid off. I’ve done many mass choirs in the past, but this is the best of the best so it will be extremely different. People who want to be involved in the arts should join a choir or even learn a instrument, it really helps.”

Ogdon says the event will be a learning experience for the students.

“I have great confidence that our students will keep up or out pace the other [performers],” said Ogdon.” This experience may encourage them to become better and go the next step, some may even become music majors.”

Aleman says the event is an excellent one for the community.

“It would be really good for people who enjoy the arts to come [see the performance],” Aleman said. “You get to see how students of our generation performs in the arts not just solely our school.”

The performance will be held Feb. 13 at 7:00 p.m. at Reedley High School. For more information and ticket prices check out FMCMEA’s Web site.