Valley musician, singer earn first-chair all-state

Frontiersman staff

MAT-SU — Two Mat-Su Borough School District music students earned first-chair honors at the 2010 ASAA/First National Bank All-State Music Festival in Anchorage last weekend.

First chairs are selected by a live audition at the festival from among those selected to be participants in the music festival.

Colony High School’s Kelly Moran was named first-chair All-State Band for the English horn section. Palmer High School’s Heather Bachelder was named first-chair soprano 1 for the All-State Treble Choir.

The first-chair performers were joined by a host of other all-state band and choir selections from Valley schools.

Participants from Colony High School were: Shea Hendren, bassoon, band; Adaline Johnston, soprano 2, treble choir; Grace Kari, soprano 2, treble choir; Tyl Cealise Kennison, cello, orchestra; Kelly Moran, English horn, band; Michaela Thompson, French horn, band; Whitney Winders, string bass, orchestra; and Anna Woodall, alto 2, mixed choir.

Houston High School had two students participating: Kim Jones, alto 2, treble choir and Lacie Wright, soprano 2, treble choir.

Interior Distance Education of Alaska had one student from Wasilla: Yetta Hein, violin, orchestra.

Participants from Palmer High School were: Eve Anderson, alto 1, treble choir; Heather Bachelder, soprano 1, treble choir; Kasie Baker, alto 2, mixed choir; Taneisha Godden, soprano 2, mixed choir; Melissa Kaylor, alto 1, treble choir; Megan Lynn, flute, band; Erica Means, alto 1, treble choir; Kayla Mielke, violin, orchestra; George Pletnikof, bass 2, mixed choir; Chris Rowell, tenor saxophone, band; Dakota Whitaker, alto saxophone, band; and Kendra White-Hunt, soprano 1, mixed choir.

From Su-Valley High School: Elijah Hartley was chosen for mixed choir, but was ill and did not attend the festival.

Participating from Wasilla High School were: Julie Cannon, soprano I, treble choir; Fiona Guiley, alto 1, mixed choir; Braydon Perrupato, bass 1, mixed choir; and Courtney MacNeven, alto 1, mixed choir.

Of the 795 audition CDs received from 50 Alaska schools, 350 students — or 42 percent — were selected. About 35 of all-state mixed and treble choir auditions were accepted. About 65 percent of all-state orchestra audition CDs were accepted and about 50 percent of students who auditioned for all-state band made the cut.