Delightful not Diva
Chorister Helps Others Find Their Voice
By Amy Morgan
"Find your voice and help others find theirs.” That adage has stuck with Ronald Reagan High School senior Madelyn Thompson since she learned it in fourth grade as part of Stone Oak Elementary School’s Seven Habits curriculum. Taking the lesson to heart, she’s headed to the University of Oklahoma in the fall to major in communication science and disorders to become a speech pathologist. “I have always loved talking and communicating,” she said – sometimes so much her conduct grade on that elementary report card reflected it. “I believe everyone should be able to let their ideas out to the world.”
Madelyn uses her voice in other ways, singing Soprano 2 in the Kantorei varsity mixed choir and serving as soprano section leader. She also is co-dance captain for the Soundsations! show choir and sang with the acapella girls show choir Chantez Nouvelle. Her favorite performance has been when the groups sing a holiday-themed gig together at the Pearl in December.
Reagan’s choir students like Madelyn can choose to participate in the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) competition, which tests students not just on their pitch and singing, but their ability to sightread music. She qualified for the mixed region choir all four years of high school, just missing the last advancement to all-state choir. Although Madelyn was disappointed not to achieve that distinction
her senior year, she chalked it up as an opportunity to learn and persevere. She shared she was recently diagnosed with OCD, so the situation allowed her to “work through that and capture negative thoughts and turn them into encouragement,” she said. “I’m aiming for knowing nobody is perfect, and I just want to live like Jesus and share him with the world.”
One way she fulfills that mission is by spending her Sunday mornings leading worship and teaching children at Mission City Church’s north campus, located at Pieper Ranch Middle School. Born into a musical family, Madelyn started singing in children’s choir herself and performed in church musicals before leading youth music. She plays piano by ear and sometimes accompanies herself as she sings. This summer she’s looking forward to using her skills to lead children’s worship for Vacation Bible School.
Choreographing for Soundsations! is no stretch for Madelyn, as in addition to her busy choir schedule, she serves as a Colonel on Reagan's Varsity Diamond Dance team. The girls performed at nationals in Orlando this February, competing in the Kick, HipHop and Gameday categories. But Madelyn was more impressed with the awards of others – notably the JV Silver Stars’ fourth place and Reagan Cheer’s second place national finishes. Her younger sister, Claire, a freshman, is part of Reagan’s cheer team. The highlight of the trip for Madelyn was being able to go backstage as cheer performed to celebrate her sister’s accomplishment. Madelyn and Claire were one of two cheer/dance sister combos from Reagan at the event.
“It ended up being super fun,” Madelyn enthused. “Our parents both came, and we got to watch each other’s routines and go to the Disney parks together.” Enjoying the fireworks display to end the evening provided another special memory for Madelyn, as the music and words reflected her emotions as she realized this year would be her Diamond Dancer finale.
She also enjoys serving others through Reagan’s National Honor Society – favorite activities have been helping teachers set up their classrooms and organizing products at the Food Bank. Even a stint cleaning chicken fluff at the Winding Branch Ranch was fun as Madelyn “loved to be able to do it with friends and know we were helping.” More darling than diva, Madelyn is sure to end the year on a high note.
