Madison vocalists qualify for 2015 All State Choir

Choir members at Bob Jones High School rehearse for a 2011 concert. Randall Fields directs choral music at Bob Jones. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Several vocalists from Madison high schools have earned a place in the 2015 All State Choir.

Students in choral programs across Alabama auditioned in their districts to earn a rank in the All State Choir, one of the highest honors that a chorus student can receive in Alabama. The Alabama Vocal Association (AVA) sponsors the state auditions and festival rehearsals and concert.

From Bob Jones High School, choir students in the All State Choir are Demola Ayokanmbi, Bass 1; Sophie Bignault, Alto 2; Paige Bounds, Soprano 2; Leah Boyd, Soprano 1; Nathan Fox, Bass 2; Elena Gimenez, Soprano 1; Michaela Philip, Alto 1; Natalie Tidwell, Soprano 2; Sara Turner, Alto 1; and Sara Wood, Soprano 1.

Randall Fields directs choral music at Bob Jones.

Vocalists from James Clemens High School in the elite ensemble are Trent Salter, Joe Williams, Abigayle Williams, Matthew Bao and Jessie Hartfield. Stuart Tankesley is choir director and assistant band director at James Clemens.

A three-day event, the All-State Choral Festival will convene at Samford University in Birmingham on April 8-11, 2015. The festival culminates in a professionally recorded concert.

Clinicians for the 2015 All State Choir will be Beth Holmes, Sandra Babb, Dr. Mark Bartel, Dr. Chris Aspaas and Dr. Lynne Gackle.

AVA is the choral division of the Alabama Music Educators Association, the state chapter of the National Association for Music Education. AVA provides various educational experiences for students that will encourage their lifetime appreciation of and participation in the art of choral music.

AVA strives to promote cooperation among choral directors in Alabama, enhance programs of vocal music in Alabama schools and encourage the sharing of professional ideas and methods.

For more information, visit alavocal.org.