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Get Your Glee On in McKinney
Get Your Glee On in McKinney Get Your Glee On in McKinney
Get Your Glee On in McKinney
Get Your Glee On in McKinney
By Michele Stevens Bernard
As the show choir, New Directions of FOX Television’s Tuesday night hit show, Glee, enters its sophomore year at McKinley High School, we decide to check in on the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Harmony, at McKinney High School, the 11:00 Jazz Lab at McKinney Boyd High School, and the True North Show Choir at McKinney North High School.
Haven’t seen Glee yet? Think High School Show Choir/Coming-of-Age Shenanigans meets Broadway, with a pop rock twist and a side of fresh choreography and sharp wit.
Just the mention of Glee during a recent Harmony rehearsal causes a buzz amongst the students.
“I identify myself with [the character] Rachel,” says MHS Senior Sarah Wagner, “Rachel is focused. She takes her music and future seriously, and so do I. I see myself performing on Broadway and in film.”
Wagner, and fellow Harmony member, senior, Ashton Shawver, both auditioned for Glee, during a recent internet based casting call.
“I was in 6th grade when I realized I had a real talent for singing,” says Shawver, who also dances and acts.
Shawver, auditioned for American Idol, and was featured on the Kidd Kraddack in the Morning Radio Show. He sees himself as a performer, but also considers becoming a choir director someday; no doubt as a result of the influence of McKinney High School’s choir director, Steve Garms.
Garms, now in his 31st year of teaching, is in his 16th year at McKinney High School. Garms is assisted by choir director, Cindy Johnston.
Garms describes Harmony as the most elite choir group at McKinney High School. Comprised of only ten members, these men and women are considered “the icing on the cake” for the McKinney High School Choir programs.
“The hardest part is getting in the group,” says Regional and State Choir Veteran, Sarah Haddox, who has been singing since the age of three, “You have to make the cut.” Haddox, now in her senior year, plans to pursue a teaching career, “I want to work with young children,” she says, “but I always see myself involved in music.”
“The difference between a Vocal Jazz Ensemble and a Show Choir, is there is more musicality and less choreography,” says Garms distinguishing his group from the group portrayed on television, “We practices from 9:15 a.m. to 10:25 every day, take a 30 minute break for lunch, then come back for classical choir training, for a total of two hours of training per day at school.”
Meanwhile, a Gleeful noise can be heard at McKinney Boyd High School and McKinney North High School as well. At McKinney Boyd, the 11:00 Jazz Lab is under the direction of Melissa Peden, while at McKinney North, True North, is lead by Steven Nelms. Both the 11:00 Jazz Lab and True North share the elite status at their schools as does Harmony at MHS. While MHS and MBHS focus their talents to spotlight extraordinary musicality, McKinney North’s True North show choir distinguishes themselves by incorporating dance into their shows.
All three groups can be found singing, dancing and delighting audiences throughout the community, making it easy for all to get their Glee On in McKinney.
Additional Media
For concert calendars and more information about the McKinney Independent School District High School Choir programs go to http://finearts.mckinneyisd.net/applause/high-school-choir
As the show choir, New Directions of FOX Television’s Tuesday night hit show, Glee, enters its sophomore year at McKinley High School, we decide to check in on the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Harmony, at McKinney High School, the 11:00 Jazz Lab at McKinney Boyd High School, and the True North Show Choir at McKinney North High School.
Haven’t seen Glee yet? Think High School Show Choir/Coming-of-Age Shenanigans meets Broadway, with a pop rock twist and a side of fresh choreography and sharp wit.
Just the mention of Glee during a recent Harmony rehearsal causes a buzz amongst the students.
“I identify myself with [the character] Rachel,” says MHS Senior Sarah Wagner, “Rachel is focused. She takes her music and future seriously, and so do I. I see myself performing on Broadway and in film.”
Wagner, and fellow Harmony member, senior, Ashton Shawver, both auditioned for Glee, during a recent internet based casting call.
“I was in 6th grade when I realized I had a real talent for singing,” says Shawver, who also dances and acts.
Shawver, auditioned for American Idol, and was featured on the Kidd Kraddack in the Morning Radio Show. He sees himself as a performer, but also considers becoming a choir director someday; no doubt as a result of the influence of McKinney High School’s choir director, Steve Garms.
Garms, now in his 31st year of teaching, is in his 16th year at McKinney High School. Garms is assisted by choir director, Cindy Johnston.
Garms describes Harmony as the most elite choir group at McKinney High School. Comprised of only ten members, these men and women are considered “the icing on the cake” for the McKinney High School Choir programs.
“The hardest part is getting in the group,” says Regional and State Choir Veteran, Sarah Haddox, who has been singing since the age of three, “You have to make the cut.” Haddox, now in her senior year, plans to pursue a teaching career, “I want to work with young children,” she says, “but I always see myself involved in music.”
“The difference between a Vocal Jazz Ensemble and a Show Choir, is there is more musicality and less choreography,” says Garms distinguishing his group from the group portrayed on television, “We practices from 9:15 a.m. to 10:25 every day, take a 30 minute break for lunch, then come back for classical choir training, for a total of two hours of training per day at school.”
Meanwhile, a Gleeful noise can be heard at McKinney Boyd High School and McKinney North High School as well. At McKinney Boyd, the 11:00 Jazz Lab is under the direction of Melissa Peden, while at McKinney North, True North, is lead by Steven Nelms. Both the 11:00 Jazz Lab and True North share the elite status at their schools as does Harmony at MHS. While MHS and MBHS focus their talents to spotlight extraordinary musicality, McKinney North’s True North show choir distinguishes themselves by incorporating dance into their shows.
All three groups can be found singing, dancing and delighting audiences throughout the community, making it easy for all to get their Glee On in McKinney.
Additional Media
For concert calendars and more information about the McKinney Independent School District High School Choir programs go to http://finearts.mckinneyisd.net/applause/high-school-choir
By Michele Stevens Bernard
As the show choir, New Directions of FOX Television’s Tuesday night hit show, Glee, enters its sophomore year at McKinley High School, we decide to check in on the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Harmony, at McKinney High School, the 11:00 Jazz Lab at McKinney Boyd High School, and the True North Show Choir at McKinney North High School.
Haven’t seen Glee yet? Think High School Show Choir/Coming-of-Age Shenanigans meets Broadway, with a pop rock twist and a side of fresh choreography and sharp wit.
Just the mention of Glee during a recent Harmony rehearsal causes a buzz amongst the students.
“I identify myself with [the character] Rachel,” says MHS Senior Sarah Wagner, “Rachel is focused. She takes her music and future seriously, and so do I. I see myself performing on Broadway and in film.”
Wagner, and fellow Harmony member, senior, Ashton Shawver, both auditioned for Glee, during a recent internet based casting call.
“I was in 6th grade when I realized I had a real talent for singing,” says Shawver, who also dances and acts.
Shawver, auditioned for American Idol, and was featured on the Kidd Kraddack in the Morning Radio Show. He sees himself as a performer, but also considers becoming a choir director someday; no doubt as a result of the influence of McKinney High School’s choir director, Steve Garms.
Garms, now in his 31st year of teaching, is in his 16th year at McKinney High School. Garms is assisted by choir director, Cindy Johnston.
Garms describes Harmony as the most elite choir group at McKinney High School. Comprised of only ten members, these men and women are considered “the icing on the cake” for the McKinney High School Choir programs.
“The hardest part is getting in the group,” says Regional and State Choir Veteran, Sarah Haddox, who has been singing since the age of three, “You have to make the cut.” Haddox, now in her senior year, plans to pursue a teaching career, “I want to work with young children,” she says, “but I always see myself involved in music.”
“The difference between a Vocal Jazz Ensemble and a Show Choir, is there is more musicality and less choreography,” says Garms distinguishing his group from the group portrayed on television, “We practices from 9:15 a.m. to 10:25 every day, take a 30 minute break for lunch, then come back for classical choir training, for a total of two hours of training per day at school.”
Meanwhile, a Gleeful noise can be heard at McKinney Boyd High School and McKinney North High School as well. At McKinney Boyd, the 11:00 Jazz Lab is under the direction of Melissa Peden, while at McKinney North, True North, is lead by Steven Nelms. Both the 11:00 Jazz Lab and True North share the elite status at their schools as does Harmony at MHS. While MHS and MBHS focus their talents to spotlight extraordinary musicality, McKinney North’s True North show choir distinguishes themselves by incorporating dance into their shows.
All three groups can be found singing, dancing and delighting audiences throughout the community, making it easy for all to get their Glee On in McKinney.
Additional Media
For concert calendars and more information about the McKinney Independent School District High School Choir programs go to http://finearts.mckinneyisd.net/applause/high-school-choir
As the show choir, New Directions of FOX Television’s Tuesday night hit show, Glee, enters its sophomore year at McKinley High School, we decide to check in on the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Harmony, at McKinney High School, the 11:00 Jazz Lab at McKinney Boyd High School, and the True North Show Choir at McKinney North High School.
Haven’t seen Glee yet? Think High School Show Choir/Coming-of-Age Shenanigans meets Broadway, with a pop rock twist and a side of fresh choreography and sharp wit.
Just the mention of Glee during a recent Harmony rehearsal causes a buzz amongst the students.
“I identify myself with [the character] Rachel,” says MHS Senior Sarah Wagner, “Rachel is focused. She takes her music and future seriously, and so do I. I see myself performing on Broadway and in film.”
Wagner, and fellow Harmony member, senior, Ashton Shawver, both auditioned for Glee, during a recent internet based casting call.
“I was in 6th grade when I realized I had a real talent for singing,” says Shawver, who also dances and acts.
Shawver, auditioned for American Idol, and was featured on the Kidd Kraddack in the Morning Radio Show. He sees himself as a performer, but also considers becoming a choir director someday; no doubt as a result of the influence of McKinney High School’s choir director, Steve Garms.
Garms, now in his 31st year of teaching, is in his 16th year at McKinney High School. Garms is assisted by choir director, Cindy Johnston.
Garms describes Harmony as the most elite choir group at McKinney High School. Comprised of only ten members, these men and women are considered “the icing on the cake” for the McKinney High School Choir programs.
“The hardest part is getting in the group,” says Regional and State Choir Veteran, Sarah Haddox, who has been singing since the age of three, “You have to make the cut.” Haddox, now in her senior year, plans to pursue a teaching career, “I want to work with young children,” she says, “but I always see myself involved in music.”
“The difference between a Vocal Jazz Ensemble and a Show Choir, is there is more musicality and less choreography,” says Garms distinguishing his group from the group portrayed on television, “We practices from 9:15 a.m. to 10:25 every day, take a 30 minute break for lunch, then come back for classical choir training, for a total of two hours of training per day at school.”
Meanwhile, a Gleeful noise can be heard at McKinney Boyd High School and McKinney North High School as well. At McKinney Boyd, the 11:00 Jazz Lab is under the direction of Melissa Peden, while at McKinney North, True North, is lead by Steven Nelms. Both the 11:00 Jazz Lab and True North share the elite status at their schools as does Harmony at MHS. While MHS and MBHS focus their talents to spotlight extraordinary musicality, McKinney North’s True North show choir distinguishes themselves by incorporating dance into their shows.
All three groups can be found singing, dancing and delighting audiences throughout the community, making it easy for all to get their Glee On in McKinney.
Additional Media
For concert calendars and more information about the McKinney Independent School District High School Choir programs go to http://finearts.mckinneyisd.net/applause/high-school-choir
Just the mention of Glee during a recent Harmony rehearsal causes a buzz amongst the students.
