Seen here are the PCHS Choral students selected to the All-District 7 Chorus. They are (front, from left) Kalee Hodges, Carlie Keller, Brittany Back, Addisyn Slaughter, Erica Lutz, Leigha Dunford and Jada Huffman. Middle: Clark Mount, Bruce Keller, Colin Hall and James Johnson. Back: Kaydence Conner, Alexis Moran, Enzo Huss, Kaya Akers, Lainey Peake and Kristy Hodges. Not Pictured: Eliza Morgan.
The Pulaski County High School Choral Department saw a large number of students successfully audition recently for the Virginia Choral Directors Association District 7 All-District Chorus.
The Virginia Choral Directors Association is broken down into 16 Districts with high school and college groups from throughout the Commonwealth involved. District 7 includes Pulaski County, Bland, Bluefield College, Bristol, Buchanan County, Carroll County, Clinch Valley College, Dickenson County, Emory and Henry College, Fries, Galax, Giles County, Lee County, Mountain Empire District Community College, Norton, Russell County, Southwest Virginia Community College, Scott County, Smyth County, Tazewell County, UVA-Wise, Virginia Highlands Community College, Virginia Intermont College, Washington County, Wise County, and Wythe County.
After the auditions were complete, 18 PCHS students were selected in two different groups to represent Pulaski County at the February District performance.
In the Mixed Chorus, which includes all four voice parts (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass), six students were recognized. Those students are freshman Leigha Dunford, sophomore Colin Hall, and seniors Alexis Moran, James Johnson, Clark Mount, and Bruce Keller.
Twelve students were selected to be a part of the Treble Chorus, which includes treble voices only (Soprano and Alto). Those students are freshmen Enzo Huss, Jada Huffman, and Kalee Hodges; sophomores Carlie Keller, Addisyn Slaughter, and Kaydence Conner; junior Kristy Hodges; and seniors Brittany Back, Eliza Morgan, Erica Lutz, Lainey Peake, and Kaya Akers.
During the auditions, students were required to sing an art song entitled, “Whither Must I Wander” by Ralph Vaughn Williams and perform a sight-reading exercise. Unlike years before covid, students now record a video audition rather than traveling and auditioning in person.
“I am proud of the way our students have adapted to this new style of ‘post covid’ auditions,” Angela Talbert, PCHS Choral Director said. “It shows their resilience as they continue to move forward. I am so happy that musicians of this caliber will be representing PCHS at District Chorus.”
Students will now begin preparing for the All-District event, which will take place February 11-12, 2023, at the Higher Education Center in Abingdon.