Out of all of the choirs in the Dallas area, Plano’s top choir will perform in Stephen F. Austin’s pre-concert Feb. 29. SFA chose them for this role after they were selected to participate in the Southwest American Choral Directors’ Conference.

“Plano Senior High Choir has a reputation for excellence,” assistant director Douglas Council said. “They work hard, they’re dedicated.”

That, students agree, is a big reason that their choir got the nod for SFA’s pre-concert.

“Unlike all the other choirs out there, where people in the ensemble feel like it’s just an ordinary class, it’s more like an experience for us,” choir vice president  senior Cameron Meyers said. “We get to work with Mr. Brookins and Mr. Council who are very passionate about music, and absolutely love their jobs.”

Choir members especially look forward to showing off the level of skill that their choir has attained. Junior Austin Rhodes, who wants to follow his parents’ footsteps and go to SFA, said that he thinks the choir’s commitment will show.

“Our choir, as a high school choir, is just as good as a college choir,” Rhodes said.

Students said that they are anxious to show that while they are with the choir.

“We’re trying to put down the stereotype that high school choirs are disruptive, talkative, lazy singers, and not professional,” Tenor I section leader senior Reid McDuff said. “We want to show that there are high school choirs out there that can show some etiquette and perform well and perform professionally.”

Some students say that showing themselves and others how far they have come will actually be the best part of the concert for them.

“The music that we’re about to perform for UIL and the SFA concert, I don’t think we would have been able to perform it at the beginning of the year,” choir president senior Nicole Dyson said. “Not only have we grown musically, we’ve bonded a lot as a group.”