Twenty-two Mason High School students spent 60 to 70 hours each in rehearsal and recording sessions this year. The result: Reflections, the sixth studio EP from the school's a cappella groups Siren and NoteOrious, released Tuesday.

The album is streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, YouTube Music and iHeart, according to a Mason City Schools announcement published the same day.

Five years ago, the program didn't exist. Choir directors Jason McKee and Katie Hayward launched the recording tradition during the COVID-19 pandemic, when live performances were off the table. The Mason Schools Foundation funded the first album, and students kept asking to do it again.

"It was an instant hit with the students," McKee said. "They've wanted to do it again every year since. It's built excitement around the program and really elevated our culture."

The pipeline has since become professional-grade. Arranger Bryan Sharpe writes custom vocal arrangements for each group, and every singer records individually in a studio-style process before tracks are mixed into a finished product.

The work has drawn national attention. A recording of "Higher Love," featuring Ryleigh Harris on lead from the joint Siren and NoteOrious album Unmasked, was selected for the 2022 Best of High School A Cappella (BOHSA) compilation, an honor reserved for top student ensembles nationwide. Both groups perform regularly at the Kettering National A Cappella Festival, including a coveted Friday Night Showcase slot.

Alumni pipeline

The program has also become a launching pad. Several Mason graduates now sing with the University of Cincinnati's Vocaholics, which recently won an International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella quarterfinal title. Claire Northcut, class of 2021, performs internationally as a lead singer and musical theater performer aboard cruise ships. Alexa Doll, class of 2024, is studying Commercial Music Production at UC's College-Conservatory of Music and already writes arrangements for the university's a cappella ensemble.

Coming up

Mason City Schools' Family Orientation and Welcome Day for grades K-4 and 7-12 is scheduled for Wednesday, August 12, kicking off the 2026-27 school year. Reflections is available on all major streaming platforms.