Area's Top Singers Make All Region Choir

Both Prairie Grove and Farmington high schools had a record number of students make All Region Choir this year.

Every fall, choir students from schools in the region -- which stretches from Springdale to Alma -- prepare collegiate level music to audition to be a member of one of the All Region choirs. This year the music included a spiritual, a Latin setting of "The Lord's Prayer" and a piece sang entirely in an African language.

More than 600 students auditioned on Oct. 15. Of these, 20 students were picked on each voice for the top mixed All Region Choir. The next 25 voices in the girls' section were selected to be a part of the women's All Region Choir.

Farmington had 10 students make the two choirs, a record number for the school. Of these, two scored high enough to qualify to audition for the All State Choir in February: Tabatha Taylor and Emily Lannutti. Others who made the mixed choir were Trevor Lortt, Alex Victorino and Johnathon Eubanks. Students making the women's choir were Abigail Hendrix, Allie Cook, Liz Jones, Sara Stevens and Emma Patrick.

Prairie Grove had 12 students make the two choirs, also a record number for the choir program. Of those, two qualified to audition for All State Choir: Danielle Hall and Amanda Remson. Others who made the top mixed choir were Colin Devazier, Charles Wieburg, Micah Duncan and Kyle McMillen. Students making the women's choir were Kaylee Durham, Autumn Benedict, Riley Masters, Abigail Wetzel, Leah Blanchard, Grace Gauldin.

All students selected for the choirs came together to rehearse at the All Region Clinic on Nov. 5. Top clinicians from the University of Arkansas worked with the students to prepare their music. That evening, the choirs presented a concert at Springdale High School Performing Arts Center.