Marietta Show Choir members and brothers Dallas and Haylen Lowery recently traveled
to Tulsa to perform in the Oklahoma Music Educator’s Association’s High School All-
State Honor Choir.
Sanctioned by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, the Oklahoma
Choral Directors association organizes and administers the All-State Honor Choir,
among other top-notch choir groups.
On the road to the Lowery brothers’ trip to All-State were a workshop held on August 23
in Kingfisher, followed by the first round of auditions for the southwest quadrant of the
state held on the campus of East Central University on November 1, then round two for
the entire state held on November 18 at OCU in Edmond.
After surviving those two rounds, the brothers were named to the All-State Show Choir,
which has the honor of performing at the OKMEA Winter Conference. This year the
Winter Conference was held January 21 through 25 in Tulsa. This year’s All-State
Honor Choir was under the direction of Grammy Award winning artist Jake Runestad.
“This is a conference in which every music educator in the state gathers together to
experience the opportunity to attend workshop designed for their teaching field and
receive professional development specifically geared toward their areas of expertise,”
said Marietta Choir Director and Music Instructor Courteney Starsick-Anderson.
“Several Honor Choir and Honor Bands on all levels from elementary through college
perform at this conference.”
Haylen joined the MHS choir program during his freshman year.
“Coming from Greenville Schools, Haylen had never had any experience with choir,”
remembered Starsick-Anderson. “He was in mixed choir, and I saw something special in
him and told him if he promised me he would work hard, I would take a chance on him
and move into show choir.”
Haylen’s hard work paid off quickly when during his freshman year he made it into the
OCDA Junior High Honor Choir, All-District Honor Choir, Chorvettes Honor Choir, and
was an OSSAA state medalist. His successes continued through his sophomore and
junior years and into his senior year.
“I have loved watching Haylen grow as a young musician,” said Starsick-Anderson, “and
I am so excited to see what the collegiate level holds for him as he continues his
musical journey.”
Dallas joined choir this year – his senior year – earning a spot on the MHS Shoir Choir.
In addition to earning his spot in the All-State Honor Choir, he has had many other
successes this year, including All-District Honor Choir and Chorvettes Honor Choir.
“Dallas is a talented musician,” insisted Starsick-Anderson, “and I have enjoyed
watching him step out of his comfort zone and try new things on his musical journey.”
Although bad weather forced cancellation of part of the conference, the Lowery brothers
and their director enjoyed their visit to Tulsa and particularly enjoyed the time spent with
their award-winning guest director.