Blind audition? That’s no problem for the Ateos Singers, who were selected through a blind audition process and will be performing at the Missouri Music Educators Association conference. In January, they will make their appearance at MMEA and sing for music educators from across the state of Missouri. 

Senior Kalli Winzeler has been in choir for nine years, and this will be her second time appearing at MMEA.

“It’s just a bonding experience for everybody and it’s something you can look back on,” Winzeler said. “We all share the same memory, and it proves our skill.”

Choir director Jennifer Stammers said that there has been a lot of success through Aetos Singers this year. 

“Success can be a lot of different things. It can be giving a great concert, success can be a person growing their ability,”  Stammers said. “Success can be singing with [other choirs] Lyyra and Queen City Chorale or going to MMEA. It’s a matter of always setting goals for yourself”.

Winzeler is looking forward to many things this choir season. 

“Aetos wise, I’m excited for MMEA because I think it’ll be a cool experience for all the younger classmen,” Winzeler said. 

Out of all seven Nixa choirs, Aetos Singers were selected for MMEA. 

“We have Aetos Singers, which is a 66 voice advanced treble ensemble,” Stammers said.

Although this group of singers has only been singing together for about 2 months, Stammers said they have already made improvements. 

“They have made tremendous progress,”  Stammers said. “As choir directors, we not only teach them how to read music and sing the songs, but we teach them vocal technique … And what they can do to make words on a page come alive.”

The members of Aetos Singers all share the same goal of wanting to get better and make music for others to enjoy. 

“I get excited to sing every now and then because even though the songs may be really simple or really silly or really scary,” Winzeler said. “It’s exciting to know that everybody in there has the same goal.” 

The MMEA conference will be held on Jan. 27-31, 2026, at Osage Beach.