By David Esteppe
This past weekend, student members from Western Greenbrier Middle, Eastern Greenbrier Middle, and Greenbrier East High schools participated in the West Virginia Choral Directors Association All State Choral Conference in Charleston.
This event is held every year for the best vocal students in the state to be a part of and experience a great choir and conductor. Students go through tryouts in order to make it in to this choir. Students from middle schools, high schools, and colleges learn difficult pieces of music with a guest conductor and then give honor concerts for the public.
Greenbrier County choir teacher Shelley Neal said, “This was a great opportunity and experience for our students from Greenbrier County. They got an extra surprise this year when Senator Joe Manchin showed up and gave an inspirational speech. Manchin also stayed to listen to them perform.” Neal also gives special thanks to fellow choir teachers Erica Vaughn and Barbara Lutz for preparing the students for this honorable event.
Greenbrier Middle School student Brennen Staunton said, “I really had a blast participating in an all-state choir in Charleston. I really enjoyed learning more about choral music and singing alongside so many other middle schoolers from around the state. We had a great conductor who was cool and funny. I will always remember this.” Staunton’s mother Valerie said, “I was amazed at the level of talent these middle school and high school and collegiate students displayed with only a short period of time to prepare. I know this will be an experience they shall always remember.”
The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) is a nonprofit music-education organization whose central purpose is to promote excellence in Choral music through performance, composition, publication, research and teaching. Additionally, ACDA strives through arts advocacy to elevate choral music’s position in american society. Visit www.wvacda.org for information about West Virginia’s chapter of the ACDA.
