TEMPLE, Texas — Temple High School senior Joshua Liller has been named to the Texas Music Educators Association’s (TMEA) All-State Choir. Liller will be recognized and will perform during the TMEA Convention in San Antonio this weekend.
Liller advanced through the rigorous audition process to earn second chair as a Bass I and claimed a spot in the All-State mixed choir. This is Liller’s second All-State honor after he also earned that recognition as a sophomore. Liller lost his voice during last year’s audition process, which makes this year’s honor mean even more to him than his first All-State recognition.
“This is like a badge of honor for me, it makes me proud of myself and helps me recognize what I am capable of – my talent and my worth,” Liller said. “It feels even better to make it this time around, not having that opportunity to advance my junior year, making it this year, at a higher level than last year, makes me feel more accomplished.”
Liller is a member of both Polyfoniks and the THS Meistersingers at Temple High School. He is also active in theatre arts, where he just wrapped up a run as J.D. in the school’s production of Heathers The Musical. Liller also takes dual credit and advanced placement classes though Temple High School’s advanced academics program.
“The Texas All-State process is incredibly rigorous in the way we do things, and it is so competitive,” Cameron Roucloux, Temple High School head choral director said. “To be a multiple-time All-State performer is an incredible accomplishment for him. It is a testament to the quality of student we have here and the work ethic we are instilling in them to persevere. We were disappointed that things didn’t work out for him last year, but it says a lot about him as a person, to dig deep and find that inspiration to put in the work to make it happen again as a senior.”
Liller is the first Temple HS choir student to win multiple All-State honors during Roucloux’s tenure with the program. He plans to attend the University of North Texas after graduation and says music and singing will remain a large part of his life moving forward.
“I wasn’t going to pursue music seriously, I was planning to go into anthropology,” Liller said. “I do still want to keep music in life and keep singing now, I don’t think there really is a future for me that doesn’t include that, honestly.”
The audition process for the TMEA All-State choirs begins in July when students first receive their music. More than 70,000 students across the state of Texas auditioned for roles in the honor choir. Liller and the rest of the All-State Mixed Choir will perform on Saturday, February 10th, at 5:00 p.m. during the TMEA Convention.