Sea turtles lay stranded
A&M victory over LSU
Migrants march to United States
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Creek students make All-State choir competition By Kadee Loyd Reporter
Members of the Creek Choir have been working tirelessly for months to prepare their music for the All-State region process. After three progressively more difficult rounds of auditions, seven students, all from Chamber Chorus, have made it through the challenging Pre-Area cut and are advancing on to the Area audition, with a good chance of making All-State, the highest level of choral performance in the TMEA region track. Of the 18 choir students in each section, soprano one, soprano two, alto one, alto two, tenor one, tenor two, bass one and bass two, that made the Region 17 Mixed Choir and continued to Pre-Area auditions, only five were allowed to move on to Area auditions. This large cut was incredibly daunting for Creek’s 23 auditionees, but nerves did not stop seven of them from securing a place, with three more taking a spot as alternates. Senior tenor one, Mitchell Bonvillian, received fourth chair, while sophomore soprano one, Madigan Ewing, and senior bass two, Travis Falkner, earned fifth. Senior soprano two, Miranda Hixson, and junior soprano one, Riana Vermillion, made third chair. Juniors Luci Melcher, alto two, and Brady Raboin, bass two, both took second chair. Senior alto two, Hailey Clough, was first alternate with chair six, and senior, Kat Velasco, and sophomore, Ella Gard, both soprano ones, were second alternates with chair seven. Many of the seven moving on were in disbelief at hearing their names called. At such a high level of choir competition, it is difficult to assume a positive outcome, but these few students were pleasantly surprised with one. “Honestly, whenever they called my name, I was in complete denial. I did not expect it at all. Whenever you’re competing against the best of the best, you can’t expect anything, especially with pre-area auditions because that’s the huge cut. Whenever I heard my name, I was like, ‘finally’. All this hard work has finally paid off, and I’m finally getting the results I’ve been working for, so it was very rewarding,” Vermillion said.
The success of these students did not come easy, and it was not merely luck that pushed them to this point. Since receiving the music during the last school year, those participating in region have put in countless hours of practice, going to camps at college campuses over the summer, taking private voice lessons and peer evaluating. Each round of auditions had three new, challenging songs to learn,
as you love what you’re doing, especially in music, it makes it easier for you and motivates you to do more,” Sophia Sereni, participant in the region treble choir, said. Creek Choir had 56 members perform in the three region choirs on November 10. This is more Creek representation in the region clinic and concert than in any of the previous years. 24 of these were in the region concert choir, a junior varsity track
designed for freshman Photo by Danielle Dunavant many of which were and sophomores who in other languages are not yet ready to such as German, Latin or Spanish. Their binders were also packed with music for the tackle the difficult All-State region music. fall concert, Winter Follies, Men’s Night Seven of the auditionees made region Out, Musical and other choir events that treble choir, an all-women varsity group, required similar dedication and attention. and the remaining 25 made the region Balancing these, along with school work mixed choir, with 23 that moved on to Preand personal lives, took a special kind of Area auditions. One of the students who determination that was apparent in all of the advanced was freshman Jacob Reeder. region and Creek choir members this year. With such high-level music to learn and “It’s very hard because you’re struggling sight reading to understand, making it so with school, and you’re also trying to excel far into the process is a rare undertaking for in choir, so I feel like juggling two things at freshman. He experienced many difficulties once is already hard enough, but when it’s along the way, but he was pleased so important to you, and both of them are with his performance in the auditions so important to you, it just makes it even and was grateful for the experience. “I got to audition, and I felt that I harder, so you kind of have to make that choice. It can be hard at times, but as long learned a lot. It’s been really difficult, but
I found a way. Even though my grades aren’t doing that well, I’m passing, and I feel like it was worth it,” Reeder said. Although region takes an enormous amount of effort, with the extra work and stress often becoming overwhelming, those who participate in the competition almost unanimously agree that it is worth it. The experiences, growth and memories that come out of learning the music as well as attending the concerts and clinics outweigh the sleepless nights and audition nerves. “Pretty much everything has been awesome about it. I really don’t think there are any lows. It’s just so much fun to do, and it’s challenging which is awesome because everyone loves a good challenge every now and then. It’s just like, you get to make music, and meet people and be with your friends and just have a good time,” Ewing said. Creek Choir’s directors, James Park and Sean Stultz, have been working with the students auditioning for region since the last school year, providing information for camps and other opportunities, having personalized rehearsals after school and encouraging the choir with advice and acclamation. Although they provide the base for their students to flourish in the region process, they enjoy seeing students grow independently and take charge of their own region success. The individual accomplishments of the region participants this year have filled them with pride “I think our program sees so much success, not only at the beginning of our audition process, but especially as it gets closer to state, honestly because of the culture our students generate. That culture of wanting the best for each other, and always making sure that we’re working towards a goal, and that drive as early back as the previous year is why we see success in the following year,” Stultz said. Creek Choir has accomplished an incredible deal this year in the AllState and concert region tracks. The remaining seven Wildcats prepare for their Area audition on January 12.
League City celebrates 21st annual Christmas parade
By Shelby Donnow Reporter
It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in League City and that means it is time to begin the holiday festivities. Every year, League City’s community gathers together to celebrate the holiday season by enjoying the Holiday in the Park Parade and Festival. Hosted by the League City Proud Organization, the 21st Annual Holiday in the Park was held on December 1st and was located in the Historic Downtown League City section of 518. The theme of the parade this year was “The Spirit of Christmas.” Beginning in the morning, the festivities began with a family-oriented festival filled with holiday cheer. Children, adults and families of all shapes and sizes enjoyed the League City activities by enjoying Christmas movies in the park, eating delicious snacks, drinking hot chocolate and making holiday memories that will last a lifetime. These festivities never fail to get the community into the Christmas spirit. As the day turned to night and
the Christmas lights came on, League Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. There were City, despite the predicted Texas heat, also appearances from League City’s transformed into a winter wonderland. finest police officers and firefighters. A Tons of organizations in League City few other organizations that walked the volunteered to parade included be in this the CCISD FFA, p a r a d e League City including Little League C r e e k ’ s baseball and very own football teams, Cavaliers, elementary band and school cheer choir. The teams, church Clear Creek, youth groups, Clear Springs the League and Clear Falls City Council, dance teams children of the competed community against the and even pets others in hopes and animals of winning who live in the beloved League City. These Photo courtesy of Janice Hallisey first place award organizations were for an entertaining throwing candy, and festive performance. The Creek singing carols, showing their talents and Cavaliers and band both won first place showing off their ornate floats. There in their entertainment competitions. There were also lots of snacks, drinks and hot were appearances from the most loved chocolate that were sold at the parade. This Christmas characters like the Grinch, year’s parade was one that no one wanted
to miss. The holiday parade is a chance for the whole League City community to enjoy a night of Christmas festivities together. The excitement would not be complete without a little competition, so the League City Proud Organization awarded schools, businesses and Churches. The overall winner of the parade was Citymark Church, the government winners were the City of League City, the best Church group was St. Mary’s Church, the best band was Clear Falls Band, the best big business was Keller Williams Realty, the best small business was Rush Cycle, the best walking group was Clear Creek’s very own Cavaliers and the best float was awarded to the League City Lions Club. Each organization were thrilled to be awarded with their well-earned prized. Holiday in the Park is an excellent way to get into the Christmas spirit along with the League City community. It was a night filled with holiday cheer and Christmas excitement. The League City Holiday in the Park is the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit with the whole community, family and friends. This year’s Holiday in the Park put everyone in the mood to bundle up, grab some hot chocolate and get into the ‘Spirit of Christmas.”