Michael O’Keefe Sings His Way From Scituate to Pittsburgh

SHS senior Michael O’Keefe is a man of many talents: He excels as a swim team captain, vice-president of the class of 2019, and a strong member of the Scituate High School chorus. This year, O’Keefe’s musical talent has sent him into new territory–the All-Eastern Division Music Conference.  

O’Keefe’s ample success in district and state level competitions qualified him to advance to the All-Eastern Conference, a competition between the most qualified and talented student musicians across eleven states in the U.S.

SHS choral director Bill Richter called O’Keefe a “shoe in” to the application process due to his three years of experience at the All-State level.  Richter noted that making the All-State competition is “one of the highest accomplishments a high school musician can make.” O’Keefe’s natural talent led him to the even more prestigious level–All Easterns.  

During Richter’s 36 years as a teacher at Scituate High School, he has only seen four students advance to the All-Eastern competition. The 2019 competition is hosted in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and will highlight 600 high school musicians, including O’Keefe.  Every participating musician prepares the same piece of music. Judging is based on the tune, tone quality, and overall musicianship, according to a detailed rubric.

Richter described O’Keefe’s accomplishment as the “highest honor that a high school musician can rise to.”  Due to his talent as a “natural singer” and his attributions as a role model to the chorus overall, O’Keefe has certainly earned his spot in the upcoming conference.  In a venue hosting over 1,000 student musicians and music educators around the country, O’Keefe said he will be “surrounded by musicians who want to sing at the level” he does.  

At the start of last year, O’Keefe realized that his once-distant thought of participating in the All-Eastern competition could transition into an “attainable goal.” O’Keefe and Richter will head to Pittsburgh for the All-Eastern Division Conference in April, and there is no doubt that O’Keefe will come back with great success and an even greater experience.