Copperas Cove Student selected for All-State Treble Choir
Special to the Leader-Press
For the second time in four years, a Copperas Cove High School choir student has been selected to the All-State Choir.
Samantha Parker, a senior at CCHS, has qualified for the All-State Treble Choir.
Parker has auditioned for the All-State Choir all four years in high school, narrowly missing as a sophomore. That year, Parker earned the spot as first alternate from Area D.
“I was so excited, because after four years, I was finally able to accomplish my goal of being in the All-State Choir,” Parker said. “It felt so good to know that I would be able to enjoy learning and performing music with this group of talented singers my senior year.”
Qualifying for the All-State Choir puts her in the top two percent of choir musicians in Texas, according to CCHS choir director Ricky Gates.
“Her grades are stellar, as is her musical and dance talent,” Gates said. “Her vocal ability is outstanding and has been recognized through the Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest the past three years, where she scored a 1 rating at State.”
Parker is student director of the varsity mixed choir and a member of the Copperettes.
Gates added that, if the school year ended now, she would be valedictorian of the 2024 CCHS graduating class.
“When I was little, I used to sing songs I saw in cartoons,” Parker said. “And, when I was in elementary school, I joined the choir at Martin Walker Elementary School, where my passion for music grew significantly. Since then, I have always been in choir and grown from singing along with the TV to performing at events like the National Dance Team Competition.”
The All-State Treble Choir is scheduled to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic and Convention at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio next month.
“It is nice to see that we, as a program, are on par with our friends and colleagues in the area,” Gates said. “The talent and students we have here in Cove are amazing and Samantha is one of those students whose work ethic is unparalleled.”
Parker added: “I hope to show younger members of the Voices of Cove that it is possible to achieve their goals, no matter how daunting they are. The All-State audition process is long and difficult, but in the end it is worth it. I know that in the future, many more CCHS choir members will be successful in making the Texas All-State Choir.”