Hays High School’s Paris Uch, left, and Madeleine Lyon successfully auditioned for the Pre-Area Choir at auditions held at Austin’s Anderson High. The two join their Lehman counterparts at early January auditions for the 2012 State Choir. (Photos by Jim Cullen)
Lehman High School’s (left to right, front) Michael Robles and Josh Banbury each claimed a slot on the Pre-Area Choir, with classmate Ethan Becker (back, center) first alternate to the prestigious choir. The next step in the annual competition is shortly after the first of the year, when Pre-Area Choir members audition for the State Choir.
by JIM CULLEN
The inevitable winnowing of a crowd of high achievers down to a smaller contingent of exceptionally high achievers worked through the ranks of the Hays and Lehman high school choirs recently in competition to reach the pinnacle goal of a slot in the 2012 All State Choir. Emerging from the latest round of that competition, Pre-Area auditions, four local choir members earned the right to advance to State Choir auditions.
Lehman High School’s Joshua Banbury and Michael Robles and Hays High School’s tenor Paris Uch and soprano Madeleine Lyon each secured chairs in the competitive Texas Music Educators Association Pre-Area Choir. Additionally, Lehman’s Ethan Becker was named first alternate to the choir.
The small group of recognized singers gets their chance to audition for this school year’s State Choir shortly after the first of the year in Austin at Reagan High School.
Eleven Lobos and a half dozen Rebels were among those who qualified to advance to the Pre-Area auditions. In addition to Banbury, Robles and Becker, fellow advancing Lehman choir members included Katherine Arredondo, Bryan Bell, Michaela Castillo, Nathan Castro, Lea Jefferson, Justin Lloyd, Chris Park and Jaymison Ramos. In addition to Uch and Lyon, Hays High’s advancing contingent included Ashley Loosier, Arianna Martinez, Sydney Rye and Ian Antonellis.
Hays High School Choir Director Charles Flores said of his Pre-Area auditioning group, “I know that all of them gave their best effort. They really represented Hays High School.” He notes that of the six, five return next year for another chance at climbing the recognition ladder and, Flores adds, “I know they will.” Lehman High School Director Daniel Arredondo praised his full auditioning contingent on its dedicated effort, setting apart his recognized threesome for having so successfully competed with an original pool of around 800 student representing schools from Pflugerville to San Marcos.
