Published: October 14, 2009 10:38 pm      

13 AMS students chosen

Choir Director says students make All-Region choir after hard work

Out of 400 students at the Texas Music Educators Association Region 21 All-Region Choir in Hallsville Saturday, Athens was well-represented.

Out of those huge numbers, 13 Athens Middle School students made the cut, and were chosen for the All-Region choir.

We are very proud of these kids,” Choir Director Rachelle McClellan said Wednesday. “They all worked very hard, and did a wonderful job.”

There were nine schools that competed for the prestigious spots in the choir. Athens hit on all cylinders in their auditions, while stunning the judges with their performances.

“These kids worked very hard before and after school to get ready for the competition,” McClellan said. “It is a very rigorous competition, and our kids had not been through this process before.”

AMS had 16 compete in the competition. The other three were only five spots away from making the choir.

“I was really so proud of them all,” she said. “Our group is so very talented, and this just shows how much talent we have here.”

Competing in All-Region Choir competition were Amber Connor, Aszia Hearn, Jessica Neill, Savannah Joblin, Lisa Barton, Jessica Bonnette, Paula Contois, Castle Campbell, Krystal Davis, Rebecca Archer, Damion Moore, Chris Jefferson and Kenneth Cumby.

“The entire group showed tremendous character and discipline throughout the entire competition,” she said.