Young singer wins All-State spot
Mallorie Jones doesn't look like a historic figure.
But when the Harlem Middle School seventh-grader was selected to sing in the Georgia Music Educator's All-State Chorus, she became the first pupil from her school to do so.
"You'd better get her autograph now," Principal Walker Davis said. "She's going to be a star one day."
The first time they can try out for All-State is in seventh grade, so she got it on her first attempt, said her chorus teacher Wendy Baggott.
Pupils don't learn how to sight-read until sixth grade, "so the eighth-graders really have an advantage," Baggott said.
The initial audition included 8,000 from the state, while the field was narrowed to 1,500 in the second audition, which was March 20. Mallorie will join a chorus of about 243 voices when she attends the rehearsals and performance May 22-24 in Savannah.
The auditions include sight-reading, a solo, scales and tonal memory. A 70 is considered a passing score. Mallorie made a 94, which will entitle her to a special seal on her All-State certificate.
"I was excited. It was a lot of work. I had to practice all the time," said Mallorie, the 12-year-old daughter of Cynthia and Darrell Jones of Grovetown. "I think it was good to give me self-confidence. I wasn't sure I was going to make it, but I wanted to try."
Mallorie, who has been in chorus since third grade, also sings with the adult choir at Second Mount Moriah Baptist Church.
Her parents, who have helped her practice, were so excited that they threw her a party and invited all her relatives. The message on the sign outside the school also sends congratulations.
"I used to sing really high when I was younger, and my mom said I sounded like Mariah Carey," said Mallorie, whose favorite singer is Whitney Houston.
"Every since I was little, I've watched Whitney Houston videos. Some of the kids wanted me to go on Star Search to become a famous singer. I used to dream about it."
In addition to being a good singer, Baggott said Mallorie's also a good pupil who regularly makes the A/B honor roll.
"She's got very supportive parents," she said. "That's the key. It makes such a difference."