Young singer earns spot on National Honor Choirs stage

It's not surprising that a girl who, as a tot, preferred singing what she wanted rather than saying it would end up singing in an honor choir at a young age. Anabella "Bella" Donaldson-Michael, 12, for the second time has won a spot on one of the American Choral Directors Association's National Honor Choirs.

The ACDA is headquartered in Oklahoma City, and its members include choral directors from around the country, representing more than a million singers around the U.S. The organization holds national conferences every other year.

Donaldson-Michael of Cape Girardeau was chosen from about 3,500 students around the country for a spot in the 300-member Girls Junior High Honor Choir. She will perform at the 2015 National Convention from Feb. 25 through 28 in Salt Lake City.

"I thought it would be a good experience and emphasize my ability as far a choral singing, rather than solo," Bella said.

The first time she sang in one of the ACDAs honor choirs was two years ago, when the conference was in Dallas.

Bella Donaldson-Michael works on homework at Hanover Lutheran Church on Wednesday in Cape Girardeau. Bella has been chosen for the American Choral Directors Association's National Honors Choirs for the second time. (Glenn Landberg)

Bella said the performance by her age group that time included six songs, one of which was written in Latin. The others were in English.

"Once I got my music for it, I had to practice nonstop," she said. "I had to sing in the shower and basically every minute of my free time I spent practicing the songs."

During this year's performance, her age group will be performing 10 songs, half of which are written in foreign languages. Russian-born Elena Sharkova, the ACDA Middle School Girls Honor Choir director this year, wrote some of those pieces in her native language.

With even more songs to learn this year, Bella said it seems like she is rehearsing the tunes all the time.

"I'm practicing like crazy," she said.

Her favorite songs in the repertoire for the upcoming performance are "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" and "Banjo Picking Girl." "That's really fun to sing," she said.

The young songbird started studying vocal music when she was 9, but has been singing all her life. She is studying music at Southeast Music Academy, where she is taught by Kaylyn Bradshaw.

Bella began her studies at Southeast Music Academy when she was in fourth grade. Mary Mims taught Bella there for two years.

Mims, who sponsored Bella for her audition with the ACDA Honor Choir, is now an instructor at Southeast Missouri State University, where she is coordinator of music education.

Mims said Bella's spot on the choir is not only a plus for the young singer, but for the community as well.

"I know she is a hard worker and that she will do a great job in Salt Lake City," Mims said. "It's also a 'win' for MCDA, our Missouri Choral Director's Association. Bella's hometown will be listed in the program, and directors from other states will see Missouri represented at the national level."

The Trinity Lutheran student said that while she does see a future in music, perhaps as a teacher, she is also interested in studying psychiatry.

Three days of practice take place before the performance, and the schedule is rigorous: 12 to 14 hours a day, with breaks for lunch and dinner.

Bella said she won't know any of the other young people performing in the choir, but that's part of the fun.

"It's nice to be singing all the time around other people who also love to sing," she said. "I made friends there. It's just amazing."

She said she would recommend trying out for the ACDA Honor Choir to anyone who is dedicated to music and loves to sing.

"It is a lot of work, but it's very rewarding in that you will meet new people and you will have this amazing experience. You won't forget it," she said.