Accomplished high school musicians, all Jackson County winners of the District 8 high school vocal and instrumental music competitions, will perform at the sixth annual "Stars on Stage: Celebrating State Soloists."
The free community concert begins at 7 tonight at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater in Medford. It is organized by Craterian Performances.
"These are kids who excel at music and who go about it in a quiet way," said Maureen Esser, development and communications manager of Craterian Performances. "Our goal is to give them some real public recognition; after all, they're representing Southern Oregon at the state level, just like high school athletes do."
The concert also is a great opportunity for the students to test the waters of performance.
"We do have some students who are very advanced," said Gary Lovre, co-chairman of the Craterian's Theater Education Committee. "A lot of them are doing major pieces and if getting through the jitters on Sunday helps them compete at state, then that is an additional bonus."
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One performer is Scott Murray, a 16-year-old junior at Crater High, who has been singing since he was in elementary school.
"In sixth grade, I decided I couldn't practice trumpet at home with my mom sleeping, so I figured I'd try choir and I liked it," says the boy with the bass voice. "I discovered I had a gift for singing when I tried out for and got a solo in seventh grade."
Murray says he's not too nervous about Sunday's concert because he practices his piece — "Aria" and "Chorus of the Priests" from "The Magic Flute" by Mozart — all the time. That means in the shower, before school, during lunch, in class and wherever else he can squeeze in a note.
Whether or not he wins at state, Murray plans to continue singing. "I'd like to be an opera singer," he confesses. "If that doesn't work out, then I can be a music teacher."
Each performer rose to the top in district competitions in vocal music, wind instruments, strings or piano and will compete in the State Solo Contest, this year held April 28 at Lewis & Clark College in Portland.
Jennifer Strange is a writer living in Central Point. Reach her at jlstrange@hotmail.com.
