Ash Grove FFA’er Davidson to sing in National FFA Chorus

Elizabeth Davidson loves to sing, and this October, she will be performing for an audience made up of people from across the United States. Elizabeth was selected to be a member of the National FFA Chorus during the National FFA Convention and Expo, to be held Oct. 23-26 in Indianapolis, Ind.
The audition
A senior at Ash Grove High School, Elizabeth, 17, said it was her love of music that led her to apply for the chorus, as well as the opportunity to meet those who share her passion for singing.
“I decided to audition for the National FFA Chorus because participating in any choir is my favorite thing to do,” she said, “and I will surely meet many friends from all over the country.”

As part of her audition, Elizabeth was required to submit recordings of her singing.
“For the audition process, I had to fill out the application,” she said, “(and) then record myself singing a verse from America the Beautiful, and a previously recorded solo. I chose to use my solo from the state solo contest last year.”
Participation in the chorus will require a lot of work
Elizabeth said she will get her copy of the music the chorus will be performing a week before she departs for the convention; she plans to begin practicing on her own immediately afterwards.
“We will receive our music Oct. 11,” she said, “and as soon as I receive that, I will begin learning it. Rehearsals with the choir begin the day we arrive.”
While she is in Indianapolis, the chorus will give an average of one performance a day.
“I will be going … on Oct. 19,” she said, “and we will have eight performances over that week, with rehearsals in between, until our final performance at the last National Convention Session on the 26th.”
When she performs, Elizabeth will bring years of experience with her into the National FFA Chorus. She previously was a member of the Missouri State FFA Chorus, where she performed solo, and has sung in other venues as well.
“I sing everywhere I get a chance,” she said. “I sing down in Branson at an RV resort during the summer, when we are vacationing down there. I am (also) a member of the high school choir and will be participating in All-District Honor Choir auditions in the first semester and solo/ensemble contest in the second semester.”
Interests outside of singing
While she loves singing, Elizabeth is also active in school in other ways.
“I am in the Ash Grove High School Choir, the President of our FFA Chapter, a member of Beta Club, and I throw discus and shotput during track season,” she said.
When she graduates from high school, Elizabeth plans to attend College of the Ozarks and major in ag education. She plans to return to her family farm and help grow it after she graduates from college.
Elizabeth said she credits certain people with helping her reach the level of success she has achieved.
“I really want to thank Mr. Isakson,” she said. “The choir is not something an FFA member would normally ask to do, (and) his support has helped me get this far. Same to my parents; they pushed me to get out of my box my sophomore year, and I am the person I am today because of them.”