Freeport senior recognized in National Association for Music Education All-Eastern Honors Chorus

A Freeport Area School District senior will sing in the prestigious National Association for Music Education (NAfME) All-Eastern Honors Chorus.

Madison Beer is one of 320 singers comprising the chorus. Singers represent 12 states, as well as regions from Europe.

She said she was shocked to learn she’d earned a spot in the chorus.

“I was blown away,” Beer said. “I was just so happy and thankful that I was chosen to do this.”

Beer has performed in lead roles in the school’s plays and musicals for several years. She starred as Little Red Riding Hood in “Into the Woods,” Sophie in “Mama Mia,” Mary in “It’s a Wonderful Life” and several other roles. She has been working with a voice teacher since her freshman year.

“I’ve just loved to sing my whole life, basically,” Beer said. “I’ve always watched old musicals: ‘Wizard of Oz,’ ‘Sound of Music,’ all that stuff. I used to always go to the high school to see their musicals when I was young, and I just fell in love with it.”

To achieve the recognition, students must navigate a multi-level process, said Tom Koharchik, Freeport Area High School’s choir director.

Beer advanced through the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 3 Chorus, then the Region II Chorus and finally the PMEA All-State Chorus before being selected for the NAfME All-Eastern Honors Chorus.

“We love to see our students succeed at that national level and be able to vicariously ride their enjoyment as a school district,” Koharchik said. “I don’t take a lot of the credit. It all comes down to her hard work, her talent and her practice.”

Beer is the third Freeport student to earn a spot in the All-Eastern Honors Chorus.

“We’ve had a lot of kids try,” Koharchik said. “It’s just hard to get to that point.”

Though it’s difficult to earn a place in the choir, Koharchik said he wasn’t surprised Beer made the cut. Koharchik said he’s spent years watching high school singers come and go, but he knew Beer’s talent was special.

“She’s extremely hard working and she has a beautiful voice,” he said. “She’s been blessed with a wonderful talent. She’s a standout performer here at the school.”

Her work ethic and willingness to accept constructive criticism have helped her become an even better performer, Koharchik said.

“It really reflects on her hard work and commitment to succeed,” he said.

This recognition makes all the hard work worth it, Beer said.

“I’m just so glad that I put in this work,” she said. “Sometimes it’s hard to be able to juggle all this stuff and school, but I’m just really happy that I’ve worked so hard to be here and that I get this amazing opportunity.”

The All-East festival will be held virtually this March because of covid-19 restrictions. The event will include a variety of sessions with conductors and workshops with music professionals, as well as a virtual choir that will premier online. Beer will perform with the treble choir.

Though it’s disappointing that they won’t be able to perform in-person, Beer said, she’s staying positive and enjoying the experience, even if it’s different from past years.

“Just the fact that I’m still able to be in this online thing is just amazing, to know I have a spot there,” Beer said.

Beer will be studying nursing at Chatham University in the fall. She said academics will be her top priority, but she is hoping to join the school’s choir and possibly explore community choirs and community theaters.