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A tenor at John F. Hodge High School in St. James was recently selected as a member of the Missouri All-State Choir.
“It is a huge honor,” said Josh Ortiz, a high school senior. “I worked hard to get here and am really proud.”
Ortiz, the son of James and Jackie Beard, said he was able to try out for the Missouri All-State Choir because he was selected for the All-District Honor Choir.
“You have to make the honor choir,” he said, “and be a junior or a senior.”
Even though Ortiz said he was well prepared for his all-state audition, he said he still was somewhat nervous.
“We found out after the all-district concert,” he said. “I knew I did well, but all of that waiting made me wonder.”
St. James Choir Director Dustin Felan said he was proud of and impressed with Ortiz.
“This is the top choir you can make,” he said. “He started preparing for everything back in August.”
Felan said it has been a few years since anyone from John F. Hodge has made the choir. Kathleen Frazier and Kate Stephens both made the choir in 2007 and again in 2008.
To go along with his all-state honors, Ortiz said he has also been a member of the Four Rivers All-Conference Choir, and “just about every other choir you could be in.”
He said he keeps busy with band, Gauntlet Gaming Society, speech and debate and playing sports, on top of choir.
He said after he graduates from high school, he would like to become a professional vocal musician.
“I want to major in vocal performance, and if that falls through, I’d like to be a teacher,” he said.
He said his top career choir would be singing for Disney.
Ortiz and the rest of the Missouri All-State Choir will convene for rehearsals and a concert at the Missouri Music Educators Association conference at Tan-Tar-A in Osage Beach, Mo., Jan. 25 to Jan. 28.
A tenor at John F. Hodge High School in St. James was recently selected as a member of the Missouri All-State Choir.
“It is a huge honor,” said Josh Ortiz, a high school senior. “I worked hard to get here and am really proud.”
Ortiz, the son of James and Jackie Beard, said he was able to try out for the Missouri All-State Choir because he was selected for the All-District Honor Choir.
“You have to make the honor choir,” he said, “and be a junior or a senior.”
Even though Ortiz said he was well prepared for his all-state audition, he said he still was somewhat nervous.
“We found out after the all-district concert,” he said. “I knew I did well, but all of that waiting made me wonder.”
St. James Choir Director Dustin Felan said he was proud of and impressed with Ortiz.
“This is the top choir you can make,” he said. “He started preparing for everything back in August.”
Felan said it has been a few years since anyone from John F. Hodge has made the choir. Kathleen Frazier and Kate Stephens both made the choir in 2007 and again in 2008.
To go along with his all-state honors, Ortiz said he has also been a member of the Four Rivers All-Conference Choir, and “just about every other choir you could be in.”
He said he keeps busy with band, Gauntlet Gaming Society, speech and debate and playing sports, on top of choir.
He said after he graduates from high school, he would like to become a professional vocal musician.
“I want to major in vocal performance, and if that falls through, I’d like to be a teacher,” he said.
He said his top career choir would be singing for Disney.
Ortiz and the rest of the Missouri All-State Choir will convene for rehearsals and a concert at the Missouri Music Educators Association conference at Tan-Tar-A in Osage Beach, Mo., Jan. 25 to Jan. 28.
