15 from MCHS bound for Regional Chorus Festival

LEWISTOWN -- Rachael Saldubehere's choral audition went so fast that she barely had time to get nervous.

The Mifflin County High School junior auditioned for her second music festival, but it marked the first time it was in-person.

"It was a little more laid back than I thought it would be, and my audition went quicker than I thought it would," Saldubehere said. "But it was a whole lot more nerve wracking."

OK, so maybe there were a few butterflies.

But Saldubehere nailed it and, in the process, landed first chair Alto 2 for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Region III Choral Festival. She is one of 15 Mifflin County High School students to earn a trip to regionals to be held at Clearfield Area Junior-Senior High School from Feb. 23-25, with the regional concert is 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25.

This year's guest conductor is Dr. Joy Meade from Messiah University. The regional choir is comprised of 160 students from PMEA Districts 4 and 6. Students, like Saldubehere who place in the top four chairs at regionals will advance to the PMEA All-State Festival in April.

MCHS Choral Director Vicki Fensterbush said students have a little less than six weeks to learn a brand-new folder of music for this festival. The new folder includes seven songs, with languages in German, Italian, English and Malay.

She also holds mock auditions with each of the students prior to the festival to help them prepare for the real thing.

With the pandemic, judging at many high school competitions for the arts went virtual for the past three years. Choir participants had to prepare a recorded audition. While some singers like being able to record a pitch perfect performance, others felt in-person auditions provided a better gage of talent.

"I felt like it was a fairer way to judge people because you had to know your music," Saldubehere said.

Wagner: Tenor 2, First Chair

MCHS senior Gunnar Wagner also favored the in-person auditions. "I only have to sing once this year rather than record myself 100 times until I get the perfect recording," Wagner said. "I have noticed that my voice is a lot less tired this year."

Wagner wasn't nervous about performing in front of judges because "I keep singing for different venues and I get used to singing in front of people," he added.

Wagner also earned a first chair as a Tenor 2.

Garner: Bass 1, First Chair

MCHS junior Alexander Garner said advance preparation made the audition process a breeze and gave him more time to socialize with talent from other schools.

"It wasn't as scary as I thought," Garner said. "We were well prepared enough that we felt like we were just doing something that is second nature to us."

He also preferred in-person auditions over recordings. "It's way more fun to spend time with friends and get to talk to people from other schools," he explained. "I find the adrenaline rush exciting."

Garner was also first chair in the Bass I section.

Corbin: Bass 2, Second Chair

MCHS senior Hunter Corbin felt the nerves but fought through them. "It was definitely harder in person because of only being allowed to restart once," he said. "When you submit a recording, you have unlimited number of opportunities to get it right."

Auditioning for only his second festival, Corbin earned second chair in Bass 2.

Shank: Alto 1, Second Chair

MCHS senior Emily Shank prepared for her judging by staging mock audition. "It was much more nerve-wracking," said Shank, comparing the live and recorded audition processes. "You needed to calm down because you only had one chance to show the judges what you know."

Shank scored second chair in Alto 1.

Shuey: Alto 2, Second Chair

MCHS junior Summer Shuey sings to express herself and feel emotions from the music. She survived first-audition jitters. "This was my first festival and I did well in my audition, but I was terrified," she said. "It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It was worse in my head than the real thing."

Shuey landed second chair in Alto 2.

Hartzler: Soprano 2, Fourth Chair

MCHS senior Julianna Hartzler agrees and uses music in a therapeutic way. "Singing is a way to express feelings that are hard to put into words or therapy in a way," Hartzler said. "It's also very enjoyable to me."

She also knew her material inside and out, which helped calm her nerves. "Once I started singing, I calmed down and had fun with it," Hartzler said. "It wasn't as bad as I thought, but still nerve-wracking."

She placed fourth chair as a Soprano 2.

Zannino: Bass 1, Fourth Chair

Giovanni Zannino, a MCHS junior, uses his vocal talents to portray stories in many different ways.

His audition went better than expected. "I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be," Zannino said. "Not as scary as what I thought they would be."

He is fourth chair as a Bass 1.

Sheetz: Soprano 2, Fifth Chair

MCHS senior Emma Sheetz knew she only had once to impress the judges and wanted to make the most of her opportunity. "I like to sing because it brings me joy and helps me through the hard days," she explained. "This was not my first festival, but it was the first time I have had a live audition."

She credits her preparation as the key in being named fifth chair Soprano 2.

Miknis: Alto 1, Sixth Chair

Addison Miknis, a MCHS junior, admits she got all worked up for nothing. "After getting the image of a black room with a spotlight on me out of my head, it was a lot more realistic," Miknis said. "It was very calm and I felt oddly comfortable."

She pulled it all together even though she was a bundle of nerves. "I had myself so worked up for something that ended up being nothing to worry about," Miknis added. "The amount of lessons and practices I had helped calm me down."

She landed sixth chair Alto 1.

Snyder: Bass I, Sixth Chair

Singing means the world to MCHS sophomore Malachi Snyder. "I love to sing!" he said.

Auditions, not so much. But Snyder made the most of his opportunity. "Doing mock auditions definitely helped manage the nerves," he added. "I wasn't as shaky as I thought I'd be."

And Snyder scored sixth chair Bass I in the process.

Leonard: Alto 1, Seventh Chair

MCHS senior Alex Leonard forgot about her nerves just before her audition. "I expected the other girls not to get as nervous as me," Leonard said. "But as we were warming up as a section, I was gaining confidence."

This marked Leonard's first audition. "Our mock auditions at school helped prior to the festival," she added. Leonard got seventh chair as an Alto 1.

Zeiders: Alto 1, Eighth Chair

Dayne Zeiders, a MCHS sophomore, found herself third in line to audition. She felt her nerves taking over and just focused on her music. "I like seeing how I can improve, and I like challenging myself," Zeiders said.

Her audition was over before she knew it. "It was easier and less nerve-wracking than I thought." Zeiders earned an eighth chair as an Alto 1.

Christie: Soprano 1, 10th Chair

Macaela Christie, a MCHS junior, was expecting the worst, the best and everything else in between at her audition. "The audition process is full of adrenaline and freaking out," Christie said. "You have to expect everything."

She believes the live auditions changed her approach this year. "In-person was an entire game-changer," she added. "When recording, we could do our best with less pressure and try until we felt our best was done."

Christie is the 10th chair as a Soprano 1.

Grimm: Alto 1, 10th Chair

MCHS sophomore Morgan Grimm credits Fensterbush with preparing her for the pressure-filled audition process. She "prepared us well," Grimm said. "It was a lot less nerve-wracking that I thought."

That helped Grimm, who has been singing ever since she can remember. "I love to sing because it is a big part of my family," she said.

Grimm is 10th chair as an Alto