Josie advances to the Region 1 Choir after representing The Ellis School in the PMEA District 1 Chorus festival in January. With the Region 1 Choir only open to students in grades 10–12, this marks the first year that Josie has been eligible to participate in region auditions, during which she placed eighth among the 13 top-scoring soprano 1s who were chosen to sing in the festival.

"The PMEA festivals are valuable enrichment opportunities for ambitious and curious students who want the chance to learn and perform more challenging and unique repertoire, and to sing with a highly talented group of mixed (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) voices,” says Choral and Vocal Teacher Gail Mosites. "I’m so proud of Josie’s musical growth these last few months, and I love that she brings what she learns back to Ellis, from vocal warm-ups and music-reading to repertoire and musicianship.”

To prepare for her audition, as well as for her upcoming festival performance, Josie has worked with Ms. Mosites to learn rhythms, pitches, diction, and style interpretation, as well as sharpen her vocal technique. Josie has also committed to rehearsing independently, a practice she is already well accustomed to as a member of the Ellis Glee Club and a singer in the Ellis choir since fifth grade. 

Josie shares that she looks forward to hearing the music she and the other regional choir members will create together, and she feels that the confidence and music experience she has gained at Ellis have prepared her well for the festival and other singing opportunities still to come.

“A huge part of the audition process is self-confidence, and Ellis has taught me to be confident in myself even when I’m in a room full of people I don’t know in a place I’ve never been,” says Josie. “I’ve been involved with music at Ellis for as long as I can remember, from kindergarten music classes with Ms. Crosby to the Upper School musicals. It has been a huge part of my time here, and the teachers do a really good job of fostering that interest and helping it to grow!”