Marietta freshman FFA member Josie Dobbins, daughter of Chris and Jennifer Dobbins, will represent her chapter in the Oklahoma State FFA Convention Choir. The convention will be held May 3-4 in Tulsa and the choir will perform five times throughout the meeting’s duration, with one of those performances conducted before a crowd more than 10,000 people.
“Mr. Bazor was talking about the chorus, and he asked for volunteers to try out,” said Dobbins, “and I told him I would.”
Dobbins, who is a second soprano, has been in choir since 6th grade and is currently in Show Choir. She’s also participated in Circle the State With Song, and has participated in districts and numerous other contests.
The stringent application/tryout process included a videoed two-part vocal performance as well as some paperwork, which MHS choir teacher Courteney Starsick-Anderson helped with.
“Mr. Bazor called over Spring Break to tell me I’d been selected,” Dobbins stated, “and I’m his first student to ever make it, so we were both pretty excited.”
Dobbins, was chosen as one of the 51-member choir out of hundreds of applicants. She will travel to Tulsa on May 1, two days before the convention begins for all-day rehearsals.
“I’m looking forward to it,” she said. “I like to meet new people and see how different conductors work, and I like to work toward being better at singing. I really love to sing.”
But along with the anticipation, there’s also a little anxiety.
“I’m really nervous to sing there,” explained Dobbins. “It’s a big deal, so it’s serious. Also, I used to think that singing in front of the whole school was a big deal, but 10,000 people – that’s huge!”
Dobbins’s advisor is almost as excited as she is.
“I got Josie into my program by accident, because she didn’t request to be placed in ag class on her pre-enrollment form,” Bazor laughed, “but from day one, she has been a joy and I am super proud of her accomplishment. I know she will represent us well.”