Coppell High School’s very own A Cappella choir is now a part of history for Coppell ISD and the State of Texas! They are one of three choirs in Coppell ISD history to be chosen to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention. This is the choir program equivalent to winning a State Championship. The last time a choir from Coppell performed at TMEA was Madrigals in 2006. Prior to that, the A Cappella Choir performed twenty years ago in 1997.
The Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) is made up of music educators throughout the State of Texas and each year a convention is held which showcases outstanding performing ensembles throughout the state. This convention is held in San Antonio, Texas and the CHS choir will perform this Thursday, February 9th at 7:30pm. Choirs submit recordings from their previous two years for consideration. You must also have the same director for those two years and the year of the performance.The recordings are then reviewed by a committee of choir directors through a blind listening process. The selection committee scores each choir individually; the choirs are ranked following the conclusion of the listening.
Last May, Mr Joshua Brown, the choir director for Coppell High School was informed that his A Cappella Mixed Choir has been chosen as an honor choir. Out of the 130 schools that submitted, only five high schools were chosen! This distinction gains the CHS choir program recognition as one of the strongest programs in our state.
Selected choirs perform a 25-minute concert for a packed audience of choral directors and show the best of their choir’s abilities. Coppell has recently performed pieces from our convention concert at concerts throughout the year and recently performed at University of North Texas in a program filled with four choirs including the UNT A Cappella choir under the direction of Dr Allen Hightower. They also performed at the Dallas Baptist University in a pre-convention concert with their Chorale choir. Their director, Dr Stephen Holcomb had the following to say about that special night. “What a wonderful experience it was to have the Coppell High School A Cappella Choir join us last Tuesday evening for a pre-TMEA concert event here on the campus of Dallas Baptist University. Kudos to both Mr. Brown and the members of the choir on a fine performance of their program. I had the privilege of teaching Mr. Brown in his undergraduate studies here at DBU and continue to follow his progress as a conductor; it has been gratifying to watch him become a leader among Texas music educators. I am extremely proud that both the CHS choir and the DBU Chorale were selected to both perform at this year’s TMEA Convention and look forward to more collaborations in the future. Congratulations! I will look forward to seeing you in San Antonio. By the way, students, we would love for you to consider pursuing your collegiate studies at DBU!”
Mr Joshua Brown has led the Coppell choir program to unprecedented levels in the past few years. In 2014, the Madrigal choir was invited to perform at the White House. In 2016, The A Cappella choir was invited to perform at Southwest Division American Choral Directors Association (SWADCA). They received a standing ovation for their performance with an audience filled with directors from across the region. Mr Brown had instructed his students that with this honor comes great responsibility to all involved. Students chosen for this ensemble were chosen due to their leadership, academic ability, conduct, and musical aptitude. He told them. “You are the best of the best. Being in A Cappella will allow you to experience many great things. A Cappella this year may be difficult at times, and we expect you to be a leader through encouragement, hard work, and by having a positive, infectious attitude.”
Mr Brown has built an amazing program for our students in Coppell High School and New Tech giving them opportunities of a lifetime! Please join us in congratulating Mr. Joshua Brown, his assistant director Mr. Adam Gilliland and to the A Cappella choirs from 2014-2016 who are also joined in the celebration of this years choir being chosen!