VHS choirs win sweepstakes at UIL

Vandegrift treble choir

By ELENA AVENTA, JENNIFER WALKER, MEGAN MESSER

Vandegrift Voice

Four Vandegrift choirs attended the UIL evaluation at Leander High School in early April and each choir received sweepstakes for earning all division I ratings in every category.

“All four choirs that performed at the Region 32 UIL Choir Evaluation this year received sweepstakes trophies,” said Michael Zook, VHS choir director.

This is the highest honor that a choir can achieve at UIL.

“Furthermore, all four choirs received all division 1 ratings from all six of their judges, totaling 24 division 1 ratings at UIL this year,” Zook said.

“We were really happy,” sophomore Victoria Chavez said. “It was toward the last week when we all came together and sounded really good.”

Scores are based off of a choir’s sound, timing, and overall performance. The choirs have been preparing for UIL since the end of January, working during class and in weekly after-school practices.

“I’m really happy because we got all ones,” junior Julianna Allocca said. “We worked really hard to memorize our songs.”

Choir started preparing for UIL at the end of January. Students attended weekly rehearsals and practiced during their class periods.

“I’ve just liked singing my entire life,” Allocca said. “I joined (choir) in sixth grade. Singing is a passion for me and I just like it a lot.”

The choirs also had a pre-UIL concert at the end of March to do a runthrough of the show in conditions similar to UIL, which was held at Austin Baptist Church.

“It’s just like you want to get it over with,” Chavez said. “Because you’ve been working so hard.”

Every single choir that has competed at UIL from Vandegrift or the last seven years has received sweepstakes trophies, totalling 23.

“The tradition of excellence continues in the Vandegrift HS choir program,” Zook said. “There is no other school in LISD, Region 32, or the entire Austin area that can make this boast!”

Lynette Haaland contributed to this article.