For most musically interested students looking to begin their journey in high school chorus, classes in the beginner or intermediate level are typically the place to start. However, for freshman Sarah Martin, her experience of earning a spot on West’s audition-only concert choir is both unique and unprecedented.
Surrounded and influenced by her music-loving family, Martin’s interest in singing began at a young age.
“I’ve been singing all my life, mostly just for fun. I grew up in a family that loves music, my mom being a music educator and my dad playing guitar for our church. I think it wasn’t until eighth grade that I realized I could really do something with my voice,” Martin said.
Prior to being involved with music at West, Martin auditioned for, and scored a spot in honors chorus during her 8th grade year in middle school.
“Middle school honors chorus was honestly really fun for me. It was nice to be surrounded with people who were passionate about singing and were good enough to get in. It was incredibly immersive and exciting, especially because we were conducted by the person who wrote two of the pieces we sang,” Martin said.
With Martin’s experience in Honors Chorus, being the highest ranked alto in North Carolina, she was the perfect audition candidate for West’s concert choir, despite being a freshman.
“Sarah is, to date, the first freshman student that has auditioned [for me] to be in concert choir, our audition ensemble here at West, and get a high enough score to earn a spot. She actually auditioned high enough to even go into an honors level in chorus, while most students initially start in beginning or intermediate levels,” chorus teacher Jacob Cook said.
“It’s really exciting for me to be able to be in concert choir, especially as a freshman. I love being surrounded by people who love singing like me, and I’m happy I have the opportunity to be a part of a class like it. It’s a little scary to be the youngest person in the class, but everyone there is amazing and accepting,” Martin said.
Not only is Martin the first freshman to make it into concert choir, but she is one of only two West students to make it into this year’s North Carolina High School Honors Chorus.
“Sarah also auditioned this year and got into the High School Honors Chorus, which is incredibly competitive, even more so than middle school. At the high school level, you’re competing against freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors throughout the entire state of North Carolina. They only accept the top 10-15% of people who audition, and Sarah is, in my teaching career, the first and only student to get into honors chorus their freshman year,” Cook said.
Martin’s unparalleled accomplishments as a freshman make chorus history, and may even set the stage for future underclassmen who are looking to achieve similar success.
“It’s really amazing that I have this opportunity, I’m excited to once again be a part of this. I feel like this proves to me that just because I’m younger doesn’t mean I can’t do things that upperclassmen might have more of a chance to do,” Martin said.
Although the future is bright for Martin, making it professionally isn’t her only goal. The young rising star recognizes singing as a big part of her life, and she plans to continue it regardless of what may lie ahead.