Houston County Middle School Idol in its third year

For the third year, Houston County will host Houston County Middle School Idol.

This is a fundraiser for the mixed chorus, which is made up of students from around the county who do not have choir programs at their school.

Practices for the mixed choir are held on Saturday, said Michelle Leary, a special education teacher at Veterans High School.

Children from Northside Middle, Thomson Middle, Warner Robins Middle, Feagin Mill Middle, Huntington Middle, Mossy Creek Middle and Perry High schools give up their day on the weekend to have the opportunity to sing.

"We average about 15-20 every week," Leary said.

The group allows those students who wouldn't have the opportunity due to the lack of a school chorus to participate in district honor choir.

Bobby Helms, choral director for the mixed group, is currently studying for his doctorate in Alabama. He travels each week to Thomson Middle to teach the singing group.

A graduate of the group, Adam Conway is now at Houston County High School. Conway was recently selected for the High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. In his essay, he said his middle school didn't have a choir.

"In middle school, there was no choir. Although I was in band, it was not the same as singing. It did not touch my soul," Conway said in the letter.

Middle School Idol participates have also gone on to success in other areas.

Cacee Clower, who won the event last year, is a ninth-grader at Perry High School. She was part of the performance for "A Christmas Carol: The Musical" at Perry Players this year.

Leary expects to have all middle schools in Houston County represented this year for Idol.

Idol usually raises several hundred dollars that is used to help students attend the Georgia Music Educators Association All State Chorus, which is held in Athens. Leary explained that children who get selected should have the chance to attend regardless of funds.

Tickets are $5 at the door.

Requirements for the contest include an audition on either Jan. 7 at Feagin Mill or Jan. 14 at Thomson Middle.

A committee will determine whether the song, which cannot be more than three minutes, is appropriate. Suggestive lyrics and bad language are not acceptable for this contest, Leary said.

Once the contestants are chosen, a dress rehearsal is held at Veterans High where the performance will be held.

The stage is much bigger than the middle school stages, and standing under the lights can be intimidating for some children.

Singers will choose the first song from anything they want to sing. Five finalists will go on to the next round and another song.

The second song must be chosen from the years 1960-79.

Leary does this so the middle-schoolers can learn to appreciate music that might not be currently on the radio.

The contest and the mixed choir are about giving children the opportunity to sing.

"In middle school, it is all about building confidence," Leary said.

For more information about the mixed chorus or Idol, contact Leary at michelle.leary@hcbe.net.

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Houston County Middle School Idol in its third year ."