SIKESTON TEEN GOES FROM SHOWER TO HONOR CHOIR

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Who would have guessed that singing in the shower would end up like this? Not Brad Wilson.

The 17-year-old has been known to belt out a note or two around the house and admits he thought he had a decent voice, but when he was accepted for membership in the 2000 Missouri Honor Choir, it was a pretty good indication he'd inherited his dad's vocal talent.

Wilson joined 35 other singers in grades 9-12 from throughout the state recently on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus where they spent the week doing nothing but singing.

In its 19th year, the program is designed to provide talented high school students with the opportunity for an intensive week of choral music-making.

"Brad loves singing, he got a one rating at the district music competition and a one at the state level for individual solos," said his dad, Mike. "This honor choir was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and Jeanene and I told him if he wanted to take a shot at it we'd support him. Brad did two demo tapes and we sent the first ones he did in. Only the top select kids were chosen, they could've taken as many as 50 kids but they felt only 35 were good enough. Who would've known?" Although Brad was hopeful about being chosen, he had already decided he would accept whatever the results.

"I sent in the tapes just to see. I thought if I make it that's great and if don't that's fine too. When I found out I made it I was very excited!" "This is a significant distinction since many students presented auditions and the caliber of all the auditions was very high," noted David Rayl, director of choral activities at the university.

What makes it different, Rayl said, is that its focus is on choral music rehearsals and choral repertoire.

Also, he said the fact that the singers must submit audition tapes is not the case at most camps.

The rules were laid out on the table from the beginning. There were three, two-hour rehearsals a day and everyone was expected to be on time at each one.

No alcohol, drugs or disciplinary problems would be tolerated and lights were out promptly at 11:30 p.m.

"It was hard, they expected a lot of us, but it was a lot of fun," said Brad. "The way it was run, the professors, everything was so cool. I liked how we'd go off and do sectionals, then come back and put it all together. I think that really helped. This was probably one of the most exciting things I've ever done in my life." What it was all leading up to, explained his dad, was a concert the youths would put on June 23 at Whitmore Recital Hall.

"It was absolutely phenomenal," the elder Wilson said. "The kids in that choir were from all walks of life. There were preppy kids and not so preppy kids.

There were blacks, whites, there were football players and wrestlers. Some were tall and thin, others were short and not so thin. They looked like normal high school kids -- until you heard them sing.

"Jeanene (my wife) and I just sat back and listened in awe, it was nothing like we'd imagined, not even close. There were three School of Music college students and nine boys in the honor choir, they sang German, French and English. There were five parts, first soprano, second soprano, alto, tenor and bass and you could hear all five parts. They sang a capella then the piano music would come in later and they'd hit each pitch perfectly," said Wilson, who's been a part of the Sikeston Community Choir for years.

"I've been to music camps before but this was only the cream of the crop. It was all crisp and clear and these were high school kids who had a week to learn it all. You hate to brag about your kid, but doggone it, they were unbelievable."