Some Kingfisher choir students not only earned a tremendous honor, but also picked up some valuable experience for an even bigger one down the road.

A total of 24 junior high and high school students auditioned Saturday, Sept. 23, for the Western Oklahoma Choral Directors Association Honor Choir in Shattuck.

Of the more than 600 people who auditioned, only 141 were selected to the junior high choir (Grades 7-9) and only 112 to the high school choir (Grades 10-12).

Eight of those selected for the junior high choir were from Kingfisher and nine in the high school group were from Kingfisher and nine in the high school group were from KHS.

“Students are selected through blind auditions,” explained KPS choral director Diann Magnus. “The top-30 scores for each voice part earn a place in the choir.”

Junior high students selected were Gisselle Ponce, Kollin Lambert, Shilo Willingham, Bailey Williams, Haven Branson, Julianna Austin, Caroline Swafford and Kynslee Nance.

Their selection was “A Patch of Light” by Jacob Naverud.

Those chosen for the high school choir were Breona McConnell, Ethan McLean, Bianca Garcia, Olivia Reyes, Raechel Evans, T.J. Washington, Elijah Johnson, Madelyn Takape and Andrew Takape. They performed “Why We Sing” by Greg Gilpin for their audition. Those selected for the junior high and high school honor choirs will now take part in the WOCDA Festival Concert on Oct. 23 in Elk City. Evans and Johnson, both seniors, will add some extra hardware to their collections.

They’ll receive threeyear medals for earning the honor each year of high school as well as six-year trophies for being selected every year of both junior high and high school.

Swafford, a freshman, will receive a three-year medal.

Andrew Takape, a sophomore, has now earned the honor each of the last two years and was also selected to a regional honor choir in Texas in his seventh and eighth grade years.

The process will also help the students as they prepare for the Oklahoma Choral Directors All-State auditions.

The first round takes place Oct. 28.

“The process is the same for All-State,” Magnus said. “So this is a great preparation for that more difficult audition process.”