GR singer joins regional choir

When she was only 3 years old, she started singing in front of an audience.

Now, she has the chance to perform with students in a choir of more than 100.

Chatney Tirrell, a Green River High School junior, is the only Sweetwater County singer going to perform in the Northwest American Choral Directors Honor Choir in March.

According to Jacob Gantz, GRHS and Lincoln Middle School vocal music director, Tirrell is one of nearly 100 Wyoming singers chosen for the honor.

Gantz said Tirrell is in the 10-12th grade treble choir, which will have about 110 singers from Wyoming, Oregon, Montana, Alaska, Idaho and Washington, who were all selected for the choir.

"Almost 3,000 students from the six-state region audition every cycle," Tirrell said. "Being selected for these honor ensembles is exceedingly difficult."

Tirrell said to audition for the choir, she performed scales and an excerpt from a piece the choir had selected.

She went into a practice room, recorded herself singing on the computer and sent in her submission.

Gantz said the students auditioning record their auditions until they are satisfied with them. Since it's not live, some students will record over and over again until they get it just right.

"While Chatney certainly has that ability as well, the audition process ensures only the very best singers are selected," Gantz said. "The fact that she was chosen out of such a large number of auditionees is extraordinary." 

Tirrell didn't over think the audition and used it more as a way to prepare for other, more-stressful auditions.

"I've had a lot of practice with auditions," Tirrell said.

The audition experience was not as stressful as others have been.

"It was very relaxing to go in there and record it with my teachers," Tirrell said.

One of the most stressful auditions Tirrell participates in is for All State.

"I honestly auditioned to practice for All State," she said.

Tirrell said she with this particular audition she just did her best.

When Tirrell found out she was accepted into the honor choir, she was surprised.

"I'm very excited and I'm glad I get to share my talents with other people," Tirrell said.

For Tirrell, singing has always been a passion. She can recall how she sang for the first time in front of a big audience at church when she was only three.

"It's my passion," Tirrell said. "I love it."

Even though Tirrell has been singing for years, there's still nerves there.

"I still get stage fright, but I've learned how to handle the nerves and channel it into my performance," Tirrell said. "It's still very nerve racking."

Her blossoming career

Gantz said Tirrell was a student of Leah Hoblit in Green River two years ago and this has led to her expanding her singing. He said Tirrell has great instincts and a steady drive to constantly improve herself.

"She is a hard worker and wouldn't have been accepted if she hadn't had the courage to make it happen for herself," Tirrell said.

"I am lucky in that Ms. Hoblit trained these singers so well, and I could jump in two years later to continue their development," Tirrell said.  

Gantz said the Green River choir program is continuing to build by actively recruiting, setting new goals and developing a reputation for excellence.

"Chatney is contributing immensely to this; and I think this step is a promising one for the future of the vocal music program in Green River," Gantz said.

"I am extraordinarily proud of the work Chatney has done, and what other members of the vocal music program continue to do. I am excited to move into the future with courageous and motivated musicians like those found in Green River."

Wyoming represented well

"Wyoming is actually over represented when you look at the number of singers in the choirs," Gantz said.

Out of 500 singers selected, 20 percent of the students, roughly 100, are from Wyoming. Gantz said this is a large amount of students compared to the other five states.

"Wyoming is really doing something right when they are training young choral singers," Gantz said.

These regional honor ensembles are hosted to create inter-state relationships and bolster music and choral education throughout the region, he said.