Eight seniors qualified for All State Choir following an audition at Parkersburg South on Wednesday, Feb. 12. Individually selected from the Chamber Choir by choir director Joshua Dubs, sopranos Katie Rutherford and Emily Lane, altos Peyton Louden and Nastasia Miller, tenors Hunter Hall and Andrew Shafer and basses Christian Rutherford and Daniel Martin were graded on their performances of five songs: “Ritual” and “Let My Love be Heard” by Jake Runestad; Michael Barrett’s “San’Bonani Namhla Kudibene;” “I Will Sing” by Michael Engelhardt; and Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi,” arranged by Adam and Matt Podd. The performances were evaluated by three judges: South’s choral director, WVU-P’s choral director, and the All State Chairman, to determine if each individual could move on to the statewide performance in Charleston.
“I thought they (the judges) were very kind, and they had a lot of stuff that could help us in the future when we go to sing with the whole entire group (A Cappella Choir),” Miller said. “I feel like we can apply some of the details, such as opening our mouths more and having more sound.”
All eight members were able to pass through the county level of All State, ensuring that PHS will be eligible to send eight choral representatives again next year. This year, these students will go to Charleston on March 6-8 for a concert alongside other All State members from across West Virginia. In Charleston, they will practice the same five pieces before their concert on March 8.
“Going to Charleston is no joke,” Christian Rutherford said. “We’ll have to continue working hard on our piece and show that we belong there. Nonetheless, I’m excited and I think everyone (All State members) is for this amazing experience.”
