GHS' Proctor Makes Repeat Performance At All-State Festival

For the second year in a row, Glasgow High School junior Gabe Proctor had the opportunity to spend his fall break somewhere besides home while also representing his community and northeastern Montana. As a result of being selected to represent Glasgow High School at the MHSA All-State Festival, which occurred Oct. 18 through 20, Proctor traveled to Missoula to be a part of the Festival's tenor II chorus. The Festival itself included the best of band, chorus and orchestra students from throughout the state.

According to Proctor, there were approximately 160 Montana students who participated in the chorus this year, up from the approximate 150 students during last year's festival. All of the students convened on the first day within their sections and then the rest of the time was spent in rehearsals before the official performance on Oct. 20.

The choir was under the direction of All-State Choir Conductor Angela Kaspar, of Western Washington University. "She had us doing warm-ups I haven't seen before. She told us what we did wrong, but didn't throw a fit about it. If we messed up, it just meant we kept doing it until we get it right," reflected Proctor. This positive approach certainly made the experience better for Proctor, in addition to learning from mistakes from last year.

"Last year I started preparing two weeks prior to going to Bozeman. This year I started practicing the second I picked up the music," said Proctor. "She [Dr. Kaspar] stated we were the best All State Choir she ever directed. She was nicer than last year's director."

The process to once again be a part of the All-State Festival started at the end of last school year when Proctor auditioned via recording and then found out in August that he was selected. He started practicing as soon as the music was made available in August, working with his vocal coach Colleen Thompson and Glasgow Middle and High School choir teacher Melissa Mickelson. "I give great thanks to both of them. I couldn't have been ready for this Festival without them," said Proctor graciously.

Proctor has been a part of a choir since sixth grade and taking lessons from Thompson since the seventh grade. "I was given the opportunity to do lessons, so my thought was 'why not take advantage,'" explained Proctor last year when discussing his first All-State Festival performance with The Glasgow Courier.

This year, Proctor is continuing with choir at the high school, being a part of the Chamber Choir as a class and Swing Choir as an elective class. He also continues to be involved in the Speech and Drama team and high school drama productions, most recently cast in the "Grease" production last spring.

Proctor hopes to make a it a three-peat next year at All-State Festival by auditioning again come the end of the school year so he can have one more experience before graduating high school.

When reflecting upon this year's trip and his experiences so far, he is very humble stating. "I don't feel I deserve all of this recognition. I have a good voice but I am not disciplined in practicing and I don't work as hard as most people do," explained Proctor.