Senior Mason Drewett said he joined the Oglethorpe County High School chorus to improve his performance skills.
“I wanted to do that to get some actual vocal training,” Drewett said.
He started as a baritone, but now he sings the bass vocal part.
Junior Shayla Richardson said she plans on attending Berry College to study music and become a singer.
Ten students, with wide-ranging goals like Drewett and Richardson, join OCHS band and chorus director Lee Jones each weekday as he sits at the piano in the school’s music room and leads vocal warmups.
The chorus has a mix of vocalists, ranging from soprano to bass. Jones said the music selection is a combination of student picks and his own additions.
“Some of the things that we would pick up might be more pop-oriented, and some of it might be more concert chorus oriented,” Jones said. “I try to make it so that it's stuff that they're interested in.”
Jones, an OCHS graduate and Vesta resident, has led the band and chorus for 13 years. It all started with a suggestion from his own teachers.
“My band directors pulled me into the office and said, ‘Hey, have you thought about doing music education?’ ” Jones said. “It had never even crossed my mind. I applied to a music program and got in and the rest is history.”
Now, Jones said he has specific goals for growth.
“I would like to have us at about 30,” Jones said. “That way, everybody kind of feels a little bit more confident in their part. Because when we’re singing something and there’s two or three people singing that one part, unless you have somebody that’s good and strong on it, then it can be kind of scary and intimidating.”
Only 10% of OCHS students are in music courses, according to the school’s profile on the Georgia Department of Education’s Insights website, and chorus makes up only 1% of the school’s population.
Jones said one way enrollment could increase is by creating a feeder program. OCES has an after-school chorus, but OCMS doesn’t offer a chorus program.
Jones said Superintendent Phillip Powell has shown interest in starting a chorus at the middle school.
Another hurdle is scheduling.
“I’ve had several kids that started off in chorus as freshmen or sophomores,” Jones said. “And then one thing or another, (and they) weren’t able to continue with it.”
Regardless, Jones is proud of what the chorus accomplishes, including its two concerts a year, one at the end of each semester.
“They’re a small group,” Jones said. “They work hard.”
His students agree.
“I like hanging out with everyone in here that also enjoys stuff like this,” senior Pharmoni Bryant said. “It feels really nice, honestly.”
Senior Macie Miller said her favorite part of being in chorus is singing high notes.
“People here in Oglethorpe should branch out more and experience the fine arts,” Miller said. “Cause they’re great.”