Go sing it from the mountaintops. The Cyclones know how to belt out the tunes.
Elizabethton High School recently sent 11 students to perform at the Tennessee All-East Chorus event held inside the Clayton Center for the Performing Arts at Maryville College Nov. 17-19.
While making their mark during the event, senior Andrea Hyder was selected to All-State Chorus.
“Andrea has tried all year long to be recognized as all-state,” EHS Choral Director Deborah Gouge said. “I’m so happy for her. She’s a senior and she’s worked hard for this. She’s so sweet and gifted.”
Hyder will go through prelims in January and is expected to be part of the final all-state chorus. The students that comprise the all-state chorus will perform in April at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. Along with the potential of Hyder, the city will also be represented by Marley Lewis, Preston Darling, Caroline Price, Sophia James, Merci Langston and Hannah McCoy. The fifth and sixth grade students from East Side and West Side elementary schools were selected to perform in the Treble Honor Choir – same day as the all-state group’s performance.
Other students that participated in the All-East Chorus event included juniors Jared Erwin and Madison Mauldin; sophomore David Carpenter; and freshmen Delaney Hyder, Joseph Kechter, Jaiden Lowe, Olivia Roe, Nate Wetzel, Carter Williams and Emma Grace Wilson.
According to information provided by Gouge, the men’s and women’s choir members were selected through two rounds of competitive audition from among eligible high schools in the eastern time zone of the state. The freshman choir was selected from the most highly ranked nominees from the same pool of schools.
“They’ve all brought a lot to the table,” Gouge said. “I couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments.”
Music continues to flow within the city. Following up the EHS Besty Band’s recent state championship honor, Gouge continued to praise the efforts of all the students.
Individuals wanting to see what the high school chorus group is all about get a special opportunity Sunday, Dec. 4.
The students will host a concert at 2:30 p.m. inside Grace Baptist Church in Elizabethton.
Gouge added the event is free of charge and that the performers will provide a bevy of Christmas tunes, including songs performed in four different languages.
“If somebody isn’t in the Christmas spirit now, they surely will once they leave Sunday,” Gouge said with a laugh. “We want to thank Grace Baptist for allowing us to perform inside their auditorium. We’re expecting it to be a great show and encourage people to stop by earlier to grab a seat.”