Earlier this month, four Solanco High School (SHS) singers participated in the 2022 Lancaster-Lebanon Music Educators Association (LLMEA) County Chorus Festival at Annville-Cleona High School. The festival was the first LLMEA event since the early winter of 2020. Students from 24 high schools in Lancaster and Lebanon counties participated in the event.

The 2021-22 audition process was different than years prior. Students were chosen for the ensemble based on their audition for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 7 Chorus Festival and a round-robin process. Precautions were taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but students were still able to enjoy a full day rehearsing with guest conductor Joy Meade from Messiah University, culminating in a concert.

The SHS singers who performed in the festival were sophomore Sawyer Weyman and seniors Lilia McHugh, Cassandra Wright, and Aden "AJ" Jackson. According to SHS choral director and music teacher Erin Biles, a resident of West Lampeter, the students sang more professional and challenging pieces than what they normally perform in school chorus.

"It was really nice to meet people from other schools, sing with their groups, and listen to what their experiences were like," noted Sawyer.

"And to have all that power of your sections behind you ... it's really powerful," commented AJ.

"I'm a really shy person, so I was really anxious about not sitting next to my fellow classmates," stated Lilia. "I did talk to other people, so I did get out of my comfort zone, and it definitely made it better."

"It was a wonderful experience," said Cassandra. "It was really cool to have a whole bunch of talented singers come together to create a concert."

Cassandra's successful audition earned her a spot in the 2022 PMEA District 7 Festival, which will be held at Chambersburg Area High School on Friday, Feb. 11, and Saturday, Feb. 12. At that festival, Cassandra will work with about 150 singers from eight central Pennsylvania counties and guest conductor Brandon Williams from Rutgers University. She will also audition for the PMEA Region 5 Festival.

"They're incredible human beings already, but when they really work hard, they can do really amazing things," said Biles.

To learn more about LLMEA, visit http://www.llmea.org.