The 71st Mars Hill Choral Festival

Talented students from five Buncombe County high schools performed in the 71st Annual Mars Hill University Choral Festival.

By: Benjamin Rickert, BCS Communications

346 students sang in in Mars Hill, North Carolina for the 71st Mars Hill University Choral Festival.

Talented students from five Buncombe County high schools performed in the 71st Annual Mars Hill University Choral Festival. These students were chosen from 900 individual auditions held last October. Those chosen joined the 346-voice choir, which met in Mars Hill on Feb. 1-2, 2019.

Renowned composer Dr. Z. Randall Stroope led students from over 100 high schools as the festival's clinician and conductor.

"Dr. Stroope opened his heart and music to these very talented students to share a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said T.C. Roberson High School choral director Aleisa Baker.

Two days of rehearsals and clinics culminated in an afternoon concert finale on Saturday. The performance featured the festival choir, the Mars Hill University Choir, and a combined performance including choral directors.

The annual Mars Hill University choral festival was established in 1949.

Directors provided the following names of students who participated in the 71st Mars Hill Choral Festival.

A.C. Reynolds High School
Ann Licharew, Jackson Ray, Cole Staggs, Will Poteet
Director: Mr. Phillip Haynie

Charles D. Owen High School
Bethany Lanning, Throop Smith, Kelsey Beck, Gabriel Coll-Bettencourt
Director: Ms. Angela Stephens

Enka High School
Brennan Latham
Director: Mr. Robert Summerell

North Buncombe High School
Olivia Ballard, Laney Dillingham, Hannah Wingard, Briana Knapp (not pictured)
Director: Ms. Jeannie Graeme

T.C. Roberson High School
Madison Bode, Trevor Hagan, Emma Kent, Zion Morgan, Katie Stevens, Alex Traynham, Jared Wise
Director: Ms. Aleisa Baker

DISTRICT

Elementary

Intermediate

Middle

High

Other

Buncombe County Schools