Two JUSD seniors have hit what may be the highest note in choir: qualifying for the prestigious All-National Honor Ensembles this month in Florida. Yazmin Mercado, of Rubidoux High, and Jacob Singhavong, of Jurupa Valley High, are among a few hundred high-school musicians nationwide handpicked to perform under some of America's top names in music education.
The Jurupa standouts will sing in mixed choir at nationals, hosted by the National Association for Music Education Nov. 28-29 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. The event will feature 609 students spread among mixed choir, concert band, symphony orchestra, and jazz ensemble. Both Jacob and Yazmin were raised in Jurupa Valley by musical families. Both have been singing since toddlerhood, joined choir in middle school, and radiate joy for the craft.
"I was proud I was able to accomplish something like that – I didn't think I was capable of it," Jacob said after learning he'd been elevated from alternate to national ensemble member.
Jacob emphasized making emotional connections with the music, honing his leadership skills, and singing with purpose. His father is a pastor, his family holidays are "music festivals," and he loves the emotional depth of worship music, he said. His musical training got serious in eighth grade, when he met former choir teacher Mrs. Morrison. He said she taught him "not only the mechanics of singing, but what we were singing for – what the song was about, who it was written for, and how to infuse the song with passion or emotion...One word can mean a page if you feel it."
That realization led Jacob to sing with a purpose – simultaneously the most challenging and enriching aspect of music, he said. He gave the example of a song about 9/11: "You're singing for people who have lost their lives or fought for our country...It feels better to sing with a purpose."
Choir has helped teach him leadership, as well; the Associated Student Body president is also a student choir director and leader of his fellow tenor chamber singers. "Being a leader has really helped me to have patience with everyone and understand where everybody is coming from," he said. After graduation and college, Jacob, an AP and honors student, said he hopes to return to high school to teach English and continue to lead.
"Jacob is a wonderful leader, and a fantastic musician," said Ms. Cassandra Foust, the choir director at Jurupa Valley High. "I'm so proud of him for making Nationals! He radiates joy in everything he does, and adds so much to our Chamber Singers. Other students know they can come to him for help, and I know I can always count on him to lead by example. I'm so excited to see what he does in the future, as I know he will be successful."
Yazmin, a soprano who performed in nationals last year, called herself "speechless" to be chosen again: "So many people from around the country auditioned, with so many great voices."
She emphasized a will to be great and do her very best, along with a pride in her heritage. She remembers singing Spanish, choral and radio songs around the house with her older sister, whom she followed into choir. She had not sung before an audience until she joined choir in seventh grade. A few years later, a disappointing appraisal of her work instilled a steely drive to improve and reach her potential, she said. She had scored 85 of 100 at a regional audition that included musical scales, music theory, and singing new music on sight.
"What made me push harder was that score," she said. "I knew I could do better and I kept pushing myself."
She lavished extra hours on her craft – spending an hour after school each day with her choir director to work on music theory. The next year, she scored 96 of 100 and sang at nationals in Minnesota. "You could just feel the talent and passion of everyone in the room," she said of the experience. "It was surreal."
She added, "I'm Latina, Mexican, Hispanic. I didn't see many from my culture there at nationals. It makes me feel proud of my heritage to represent not only Rubidoux, but also the Latino community in what I do." Yazmin, a pianist, guitarist and dancer who is No. 2 academically in her senior class, plans a career in music – composing, writing, and producing – after double majoring in political science and vocal performance at a UC or Ivy League school.
"I am so proud of Yazmin and all of her achievements," said Mr. Jeff Lin, director of choral music at Rubidoux High. "This is only one of many great accomplishments we have seen from Yazmin since she began singing in the choir four years ago. Yazmin is a prime example of hard work and dedication. She is the perfect representation of our music department at Rubidoux High School, and we are all very excited for her to perform at this prestigious event."
Both students have learned and shown life skills such as discipline, perseverance and good time management, balancing choir with tough academic schedules and extracurricular interests.
"I always tell myself if you practice enough, you'll get it," Jacob said. "It's always worth it because I didn't give up and kept pushing."
Yazmin added that she's had to learn to be self-motivated: "It's solely based on me to learn my music, to practice, to always get better."
For both of these students, it looks like nationals will be the first of many high notes to come.
