Local students attend all-state chorus

Published 10:00 am Wednesday, March 2, 2016

TIFTON – The Northeast Campus of Tift County High School ninth grade chorus, directed by Sheri Wyles, and the Eighth Street Middle School seventh and eighth grade choruses, directed by Pam McClellan, had six participants in the Georgia All-State Chorus event held Feb. 27 at The Classic Center in Athens.

Students had to pass two auditions in order to participate in the Georgia All State Choirs. Michael Royal is a three-year Georgia All-State participant. Both Hays Jones and Makhayla Robinson are two-year participants, with Jones scoring a perfect score both years of his final audition. Royal sang in the Senior Men’s Chorus, directed by Dr. Gene Peterson, director of Choral Activities at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Selections included “I Come Singing” by Eric Barnum, “Der 23 Psalm,” OP. 132, D. 706 by Franz Schubert, “The Lone Wild Bird,” by Richard Burchard, “Ring Out, Wild Bells,” by Ron Nelson, “Pirate Song,” by Tim Jones, and “Sing Your Way Home,” by Joseph Martin.

Both Rebecca Jones and Robinson sang in the All-State Middle School Treble Chorus directed by Emily Ellsworth, the Artistic Director of The Young Singers of Greater Chicago. Their program included “Day Break” by Stephen Paulus, “Let’s Imitate Her Notes Above” by G.F. Handel, “Sanctus” by Rupert Lange, “Shenandoah” by Paul Basler, “Papageno-Papagena” by W. A. Mozart, “Sesere eeye” an Aboriginal song from Torres Strait Islands, and “How Can I Keep from Singing” by Gwyneth Walker.

Mary Mauldin Collins, Hays Jones and Will Jones performed in the All-State Middle School Mixed Chorus conducted by Trey Jacobs, director of Choirs at Head Magnet School in Nashville, Tennessee. Song selections included “Mungu Ni Pendo” arranged by Robert Gower, “Kyrie “ by Glenn McClure, “Kyrie Eleison” by W. A. Mozart, “Circles of Our Lives” by David Brunner, “Muie Rendera” by C. A. Fonseca and “Do, Lord, Remember Me” by Andre Thomas.