With Sing Song week upon us, the host and hostesses practice late into the night – perfecting their pitch, preparing their choreography and performing their parts. In the blur of their busy week, the stars share their experiences.

The 2013 Sing Song host and hostesses consist of six students, all with unique styles and personalities combined to create a one-of-a-kind show.

Austin Anderson, junior biochemistry major from Flower Mound; Abbie Boyd, junior early childhood education major from Austin; Bree Hembree, junior vocal performance major from North Richland Hills; Jace Reinhard, senior theatre major from Greenville, Ill.; Amanda Jarufe, senior theatre major from Coppell; and Jarrett Ward, senior vocal performance major from Houston will grace the stage as this year’s hosts and hostesses.

“Life for us doesn’t stop,” Hembree said. “We have almost no breaks, but I love every minute of it. Being a music major, I already sing nonstop, but lately I have been truly consumed by it.”

Host and hostesses perform in Sing Song 2013 with their backup dancers. (Optimist photo by Mandy Lambright)by

Ward echoes a similar feeling.

“This week has been filled with time in the dance studio and with our vocal coach,” Ward said. “Our days are long but very productive and rewarding. It’s going to result in an awesome show.”

The host and hostesses agree the combination of voices this year is one sure to please audiences.

“The show has brilliantly arranged music that showcases our six unique voices,” said Jarufe. “We absolutely love singing together and have a great blend. One of my favorite moments is singing in a trio with Bree and Abbie. It’s so much fun to make harmonies with their voices. Everyone should come see the show this weekend because I promise you will walk away singing at least one of our songs.”

These students were born to perform. Both Hembree and Ward said they were singing before they could talk, and Jarufe recalled singing in home videos at age 3. This lifelong passion will be evident through the performance.

“The Optimist readers better brace themselves, because it’s going to be a wild ride,” Ward said. “I have heard all the songs a million times at this point but they still blow me away.”