It was an honor for six Green River High School choir students to attend All-State a few weeks ago.
Those attending All-State Choir, which took place in Cheyenne, were soprano, Kinzie Buggy, altos, Katelynn Carter and Kayla Gibson, basses, Will Higbee and Michael Montoya and tenor, Dallin Hoyt. Leah Hoblit, GRHS and Lincoln Middle School music teacher, went along with the students.
“Kayla Gibson made All-State all four years in high school. That’s a rare occurrence. It’s not an easy thing to accomplish,” GRHS band director Jerrid Washburn said.
“That’s a huge honor,” Hoblit said. “Every year, about five from across the state receive that award.”
During the two-day conference, the students rehearsed from morning until evening both days. Meanwhile, the teachers attending the conference have a chance to visit with each other and learn new things.
“It was very nice for teachers,” Hoblit said. “They have tons of workshops for us to attend.”
Even though this is Hoblit’s first year of teaching, she is familiar with All-State.
“I’ve been to All-State before; and was an All-Stater so I knew what to expect,” Hoblit said.
This knowledge helped her out both at the conference and with the audition process. This year, a dozen GRHS choir students auditioned for All-State Choir in November.
Hoblit was impressed with the fact that about half of those who auditioned made it into the All-State Choir.
“I heard it’s a pretty good number,” Hoblit said. “I was pretty pleased with who made it.”
Those who auditioned needed to perform scales, site read music and learn the music piece selected. All of this work took place in November; and in December the students found out who was selected.
To prepare, the choir students practiced at home, worked with their voice coach and with Hoblit.
During All-State, the students participated in a choir concert, which featured students from across the state.
“It was good for them to see what a choir could be at that level,” Hoblit said. “It was a very good experience for the kids.”
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