Thirteen Salem Choir students earned performance slots at the ISSMA State Solo-Ensemble Auditions on Saturday, February 20 by achieving Gold Medal rankings at the ISSMA District Festival.
They were among 38 Vocal Music soloists from Salem High School and Salem Middle School participating at the District auditions at Floyd Central High School February 6.
SHS students advancing to the State event include Asia Burns, Courtney Rogers, Lauren Allen, Sabrina Tuell, Teyha Morison, and Tiffany Cooke.
Also advancing are Tyasia Gant, Whitney Journell, Cameron Davidson, Cody Blackwell, Drew Pickerill, and Jordan Borden. SMS 8th grader Melea Hardin also earned a trip to the State event.
Other SHS students performing in Group I, the most demanding level, included Kelly Mount, Gretchen Leis,
and previous State qualifier Laura Andis. All earned Silver medals. Jacki Azcuy, Cheyenne Madden, and Taylee Azcuy all brought home Gold medals in Group II.
Twenty Salem Middle School students performed at the Festival, with seventeen of these earning Gold medals.
Melea Hardin earned a Gold medal in Group I, and Cora Saunders and Isabelle Reynolds performed in Group II,
earning Gold and Silver medals, respectively.
Brooklyn Thompson and Sarah Yoder all received Gold medals in Group III, and Justice Brown was awarded a Silver rating.
Group IV singers Kennedy Abner, Kiley Gilbert, Sydney Rogers, Lauren Stephenson, and Tyra Lucas earned Gold medals,
and Erika Harley received a Silver.
6th Grade soloists in Group V all received Gold medals. They included Alyssa Gregerson, Destiny Davis, Jenetta Kaiser,
Trinty Gooch, Kagan Jenkins, Natalie Blevins, Arina Hardy, and Elizabeth Tussey.
The performances were the culmination of five weeks of individual instruction in weekly sessions conducted by accompanists/ vocal coaches Allison Fory Hall, Megan Touchstone, and Bill Spencer-Pierce.
The activity is supported by grants from the Salem Choir Parents Organization.
The thirteen State-bound soloists will perform in a free recital Thursday, February 18, at 7:15 p.m. in the Salem High School
Presentation Room. Details at SalemChoirs.org and on Twitter @SalemChoirs.
