By Brooke Stevenson
    Fifteen Seymour High School Choral Department singers have made the 2010 All-State Choir.
    The students are Chris Bergman, Wes Burkhart, Sarah Clark, Savannah Craven, Olivia Crisp, Cody Galyon, Haylee Haggard, Karina Higdon, Alex Horton, Andrea Markowitz, Katie Merrell, Ian Norwood, Laura Ogle, Brandon Pack and Heather Wolk.
    Students auditioned the first Saturday in October, and those with high enough scores in the All-East Tennessee Choir made it to the All-State Choir.
    “As far as I know we have had the highest number of kids make the All-State Choir for probably the last five years,” said Seymour High School Choir Director Jean Burkhart. “Most schools only take four or five kids that make the all state choir.”
     All of those chosen has achieved great accomplishments through their participation in choir, added Burkhart.
Micah Binkley and Stephanie Miller were chosen as alternates and Cody Galyon was chosen to sing a solo at the All-East Concert.
     Olivia Crisp and Andrea Markowitz were given the East Tennessee Vocal Association scholarship for having the highest score in their respective sections.
     Cody Galyon, Katie Merrell and Ian Norwood were chosen to perform at the American Choral Directors Association Conference in Memphis.
     In April the students will sing in Nashville with other singers chosen from schools throughout the state who have also made the All-Star Choir.
    While in Nashville the students will get the chance to work with famous directors and composers.
“It is a great opportunity at All-State for the kids to work with world renowned directors and then perform a concert,” Burkhart said. “They love going to Nashville and they get to sing at different venues and it is a great opportunity.
     “Hard work and talent is a winning combination for our students every time,” Burkhart said. “Take talented kids that are willing to work hard and you will have a winning combination.”
     This weekend the Seymour High School Choral Department will join the St. John’s Cathedral Choir and members of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra to present Bach’s Magnificat.
     The concert will take place at 3 p.m. Dec. 13 at St. John’s Cathedral in Knoxville.
     Soloists for the concert are former members of the Seymour High School Concert Choir who are music majors attending The University of Tennessee, as well at three soloists from the St. John’s Choir.
     There is no admission charge for the concert, but donations will be divided between the Judy Wade Music Scholarship and Sevier County Food Ministries.
     For more information about the concert call St. John’s at 525-7347.

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