Sounds of South students enjoyed a success at ISSMA state on Saturday, February 21st. Thirty-six out of 46 of the members performed at state, and 33 were awarded gold. 

ISSMA, or Indiana State School Music Association, sees hundreds of kids from different schools throughout Indiana and assists in their musical development in an educational way. Part of their mission, as stated on their website, is to “provide educationally evaluated music performance opportunities.” Students are expected to prepare a solo piece that challenges but also highlights their vocal abilities. They are then assessed and scored on their performances. Singers perform works composed by Handel, Bononcini, and A. Scarlatti among many others.

Hard Work and Preparation

Students in Sounds of South work for months preparing to perform at district in hopes to move on to state. Their process includes learning their piece and working with director Gwen Witten Upchurch and pianist Keaton Springfield. Junior Katelyn Jeffers and senior Hayden Miller describe the hard work and preparation it took to earn them both gold at state. When asked how they prepare, both singers said they took time to listen to their pieces, pluck out their notes on the piano, and learn their rhythm. Jeffers, an alto in Sounds of South who sang “Laurie’s Song” by Aaron Copeland, said that with help from her vocal coach, she was able to work on the “dynamics and storytelling” that shape a performance. 

Coping with Nerves

Singers who perform at ISSMA often experience the inevitable anxiety that is a part of what they do. Miller, a tenor who sang “O Del Mio Dolce Ardor” by Christoph Willibald Gluck, said he experiences nerves often before performing, stating that it’s “easy to get nervous.” He copes with these nerves through deep breathing, and further assuring himself that his performance will go well. Jeffers remarked that she strives to make a good impression in front of the judges, and that nerves often accompany her. She manages them well by using techniques such as slow breathing and reminding herself that “this one song [doesn’t define] my worth as a singer.” 

Warm-Up and Performance Day

On the day of state, members of Sounds of South put in extra time to ensure that they are fully ready to give it their all. Jeffers spoke about her dedication to performing at ISSMA, saying that, on performance day, she woke up bright and early to warm up her whole body, not just her voice. Her physical warmup included a workout, while her vocal warmup included a “thorough and consistent” routine that was respective to the piece she was performing. Miller had a similar approach, noting that it was helpful for him to stretch and get his body engaged in order for him to feel fully ready to perform.