Singing Isaac

All-City Choir (made up of parts of all the high schools in the area)

Isaac is the first boy on the left (or 6th from the left), 2nd row down

Here is Isaac with his good friend Julie. They're in school choir together, in the ward choir, in the stake Christmas choir, and the stake youth bell choir. They also take piano lessons from the same teacher and compete together in the monthly piano Master's Classes (Julie won, so Isaac's working hard to beat her next time). And they both just made it into the school play, "Les Miserables." Isaac is in the chorus and he's understudy for Enjolras. He was hoping for a better role, but it's hard when they pick a college student for the lead role (in a high school play???) and use a girl for Gavroche. Isaac did NOT want to be Gavroche again, and I did NOT want him to be a sailor. The drama directors picked a lot of their "own" people for the other lead roles, and since Isaac is new and is not in drama, he was at a disadvantage. But the music is great and it will be a great experience even if he just hands out the programs! Eliza and Madi didn't want to try out, but maybe they'll try out for the orchestra for the play when the time comes?

Isaac also went to auditions for the District Choir, which consists of singers from the high schools within about an hour of here. He tried out for 2nd tenor and was excited to make it: he's 6th chair, out of 18 chairs. Interestingly, the boy who got the part of "Enjolras" in the play also tried out for 2nd tenor, but did not make it at all. So that was a comfort to Isaac that even if he didn't get picked for a lead in the school play, he WAS picked by the top choir directors in the area. Next Isaac wants to try out for regional and then state choirs. He really enjoys all this singing experience, plus it all looks good on scholarship applications! He's working on his college applications to BYU, Hillsdale, and Princeton.

Isaac also spoke in stake conference recently. He enjoys his seminary class at 6 a.m. every morning. He has a great seminary teacher and they enjoy joking with each other. For example: as Isaac walked into class one day, the teacher said, "Isaac, what hymn number is 'If I Could Hie to Kolob?'" Isaac immediately said the correct number. The teacher laughed and asked, "Do you stay home from football games to study the hymn book?" And Isaac responded, "I just take my hymn book to the football game and study it there." =)

Isaac has admitted that being in Texas isn't as awful as he expected and that the music programs here are incredible compared to what he would be doing if he were still in CA. Yay! One down, four to go... but by the time they all love Texas it will be time to move again... =(