Analyzing District Results for High Schools

After every district, region, and area competition, I always try to evaluate how my students did, how they did relative to the competition, and what I can do to make my students even more effective in the audition process.

First analysis: My high school students did VERY well.  The vast majority of my singers made it past district.  Those who did not make it past region, for the most part, were either auditioning for the first time and were very nervous, or got unlucky by getting sick the week of auditions.

Interestingly enough, the students that had the most success - were my Altos.  I had 2 #1 chairs!  Last year, it was my men who blew away the competition.  This year, my women had the most success.  As a teacher, this is very reassuring to me, as it shows that I teach different voice types equally well. 

Second analysis: The more prepared the student, the higher the ranking.  This was true for the vast majority of my students, and all the singers I heard in my judging panel (I judged the Soprano IIs).  The two students from my studio who ranked #1 knew their music practically a month before auditions.  They probably could have sung the audition memorized.  While these students also have considerable talent, I believe their preparation and work ethic is what separated them from the pack.

DWS