To prepare for their upcoming UIL sight-reading and concert, choir is taking part in an event at Heritage High School, Thursday starting at 6 p.m.

“Pre-UIL is our opportunity for us to get judged, and receive some feedback before the actual contest date,” choir director Toni Ugoli said. “UIL is a contest run by the state where we get evaluated by six judges on how we do on our concert performance of three songs and then we go to sight reading where we are given a piece we have seen before and have two chances to perform.”

Different from a concert or most other performances, Thursday’s event will let the choir know where they stand before their UIL competition in early April.

“Hopefully after pre-UIL we will feel much more prepared,” freshman Zoe Mallari said. “Pre-UIL allows us to get a feel of where we are in our pieces and what the actual thing will be like in terms of being able to perform on a stage. Currently, we are practicing sight reading and are working on adding musicality.”

Each piece is scored on a scale of 1 (superior) to 5 (poor) with choirs judged on tone, technique, and musicianship.

“With pre-UIL I still get really nervous,” freshman Nadia Dent said. “But afterward you realize it is not that bad. Then when at the actual UIL[contest] you are still nervous but you have a better understanding of what is going on.”