By Chris Moffitt

When the top musicians of the region are gathered together in one group, in one building, for one performance, the music that is made is absolutely unbelievable.

I had the recent privilege of being part of the Regionals experience along with several other talented TPA students. Of those who made the Regionals Choir, TPA had Nasrynn Chowdhurry, Tiffanie Cappello Lee, Christopher Moffitt, Anthony Giandiletti (Sophomores), and TJ Smith, and Andrew Stough (Seniors). TPA also had several students which made the Regional Orchestra: Josephine Fisher (Freshman), Dominic Amorose (Junior), and Thomas Menefee (Senior). In total, our small and humble Tempe Prep saw nine of its students qualify to perform with the best musicians in our region.

To make it to this level, students have to go through a rigorous audition process where they compete with students from every other high school in the region. This process includes both sight reading and performing a prepared solo. This requires much talent and preparation. “To prepare, I drill on sight-singing as much as I can,” says Nasrynn Chowdhurry. “Although the solo is the less stressful part, I still prepare the song a few months prior to the audition.”

Dominic Amorose, on the other hand, practices “a half hour, five days a week” in order to prepare. As one can see, making Regionals is not an easy accomplishment.

The work definitely pays off once the musician successfully makes it into the Regionals experience. Regionals provides “a fun experience where you are able to meet interesting and talented people outside of school,” says Dominic.

For Nasyrnn, “The main reason the Regional choir experience is so fun is because everyone in the choir is there for one reason: to have fun doing what we love to do.”

For me, the best aspect of Regionals is creating as musicians such a wholesome, pure, and beautiful sound, and knowing that I am contributing to that music. It is one of the best feelings I have ever felt.