By Staff, RealWV
West Virginia high school students have the unique opportunity of participating in 3 different all-state choirs during their high school career–the Jr High/Middle School Honor Choir, the High School Honor Choir, and the WV High School All-State Chorus.
There were eight freshmen students selected (maximum allotment per school) to participate in the Jr High/Middle School Honor Choir along with approximately 200 other 7th-9th graders from all over West Virginia from January 26-28 in Morgantown. Students auditioned at the school level. Once selected, they met with all of the other students at the conference to rehearse prepared music together, which was rehearsed during after school rehearsals.
They performed in concert together on January 28th at Chestnut Ridge Church for family and community members. The 8 students that represented Greenbrier East High School are Serena Ramsey, Kimmi Butler, Lashawnti Winston, Tonya Martin, Malcolm Simmons, Andrew Honaker, Brian Lopez, and Geoffrey Bland.
The High School Honor Choir took place at Morgantown in late January as well. For this ensemble, the audition process is much more rigorous and a much smaller choir. Students must prepare challenging music ahead of time, as well as sing minor scales, sight-read rhythms and sight-read melodies as part of the audition process. The students prepared for auditions during after school rehearsals. These auditions took place on November 5th at WVU.
This year, four students from Greenbrier East High School were selected to participate in this elite choir, along with approximately 55 other students from the state. Their rehearsals and concert followed along with the Jr High/Middle School Honor Choir in Morganton, WV. The four students that represented Greenbrier East High School are Ali Wills (senior), Jacelyn Lilly (senior), Mikayla Wilcox (senior), and Carson Waid (junior).
Six students were selected to participate in the High School All-State Chorus in Charleston earlier this month. These students underwent a two-part audition process. They auditioned at the school level. Once selected, they attended after-school rehearsals so prepare the music. Then, the students auditioned at the regional level. They all successfully passed both auditions which allowed them to participate at the state level. The six students participated along with approximately 200 other high school students in the state. They rehearsed together during the conference.
The concert took place on March 4th at the Clay Center, following the all-state band and all-state orchestra concerts. The 6 students that represented Greenbrier East High School are Lily Dense (junior), Heather Jones (senior), Ali Wills (senior), Mikayla Wilcox (senior), Tristan VanBuren (senior), and Carson Waid (junior).
Ali Wills (senior) and Mikayla Wilcox (senior) have both been selected for Honor Choir two years in a row in addition to being selected this year for the High School All-State Chorus.
Heather Jones (senior) and Lily Dense (junior) have been selected two years in a row for the High School All-State Chorus.
Carson Waid (junior) was selected for both the High School Honor Choir and the High School All-State Chorus and this is his first year in choir.
The students being honored this year are learning under the direction of Carrie Neese. She also directed several of them in years past at Lewisburg Elementary, as pictured above.
