Applying for Musictown court was one of the greatest experiences I’ve had in my time at SBRHS. Becoming a candidate took three things; a personal information sheet, typed resume, and essay. 

The personal information sheet was by far the easiest part of the process, taking under half an hour to fill out. It asked basic questions like your name, grade, and who would be escorting you at the ball. 

The resume portion was difficult. Here each candidate indicates the activities they do with the school, outside of school, and any hobbies they have. Due to there being a single page limit, it was hard to decide which activities should be included and which should be omitted. However, activities and experience that emphasize community service, speaking experience, and general interest in music are the best to create support for the story you tell in your essay. These sorts of activities are not necessarily required though, as passion for music alone is enough to make a successful candidate. 

Candidates then sent in their final piece of their application, a typed essay about “what music means” to them. This essay can be interpreted in a number of ways, all of which are equally valid. Candidates last year (2021) wrote about how music helped them develop a community, get through hardships, and discover themselves, among many other topics. The essay portion of the application was by far the most time consuming, as it required drafting, editing, revising, and submitting. Though this process requires an abundance of patience and creativity, I believe it is the most crucial in expressing your passion for music. While on paper you may be a mid-tier candidate, with this essay you will be able to express any hidden music related passions that did not make it into your resume. The essay is when you are able to truly develop the unique importance that music has in your everyday life. 

After submitting an application, students were informed of their positions as candidates and met with court selection coordinators to answer any questions, learn of the dates in which they would be required to be present, and pick numbers for judging. These numbers were picked at random from a stack of envelopes and determined the order in which the candidates would be judged. Judging itself was done by an impartial group of qualified members of the Musictown community. The judging took place at SBRHS, over the course of a single day. During this judging you are asked questions pertaining to your experiences in music and any additional clarifications or expansion judges may want based on your resume. Additionally, contestants read their essays to the judges during the judging portion.

All contestants take part in the procession during the ball, in which their resume is read as they walk with their escort. At the end of the formal portion of the ball, after all of the performances, candidates line up in numerical order and the Musictown Queen, King, Princess, and Miss Congeniality are announced.

Additionally, the Breeze would like to congratulate the members of the 2021 Musictown court: Musictown Queen and Miss Congeniality Bethany Mello, Musictown King Shawn Simmons, Musictown Princess Maggie Corcoran, and Musictown Miss Congeniality Emily Shea.

Taking part in the Musictown court selection process was one of the best decisions I have made in high school. It gave me an opportunity to learn more about my peers, make friends with other contestants, have more public speaking experience from the interview, learn practical skills like how to format a resume, express my passion for music, and have fun! Being a candidate in the court process also gives you an excuse to dress up and wear a ballgown, which is just another fun part of the process! If you love music and find yourself in need of an extra activity in the months of September and October, then definitely consider taking part in the Musictown court selection!