Shelby students selected for regional honors choir 

Shelby High School students selected for Regional Honors Choir include, left to right: Alex Crowder, Ivan Moncada-Pineda, Leisy Green, Carolina Guereca, Austyn Webb and Abigail Eckert. – Contributed photo

West Shore School News is a presentation of West Shore Educational Service District in partnership with Oceana County Press. 

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

SHELBY — Six Shelby High School students were selected for the Region A Honors Choir. 

The students include seniors Abigail Eckert, soprano 2; Carolina Guereca, alto 1; Austyn Webb, alto 2; Leisy Green, alto 2; junior Ivan Moncada-Pineda, tenor 2; and sophomore: Alex Crowder, bass 1.

“These students auditioned alongside 500 students from all over Michigan,” said Shelby Director of Choirs Gustavo Morales. “Shelby is in Region A, which has 120 other students who auditioned in our specific region for a chance to be in the honors choir program.”

The students auditioned by sending a video recording.

“In order to audition, students must memorize a collegiate piece of vocal music in Latin to sing acapella,” said Morales. “We had 12 student auditions this time. From the 12 that auditioned, six got selected. This is a huge deal given that it is very hard to get in. There is especially more competition against soprano and alto singers who audition. Congratulations to these students for this monumental accomplishment. I’m really, really proud of them. Last year, we had three, and this year it doubled.”

The Shelby students now move onto auditions to the State Honors Choir, Dec. 7, at Hope College, said Morales. “That one is even harder to get into,” said Morales. The singers will audition in person in front of a judge. “They have to memorize their pieces, and the judges select four eight-measure parts.” The students are not informed ahead of time which portions of the song they will be asked to sing.

“They rehearse in the morning; they have auditions in the middle of the day; a performance; and then they find out if they made it into state that night.”

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