Students represent NPHS at all-state choir
NPHS choir members represent at the All-State choir concert in Lincoln. Members included front from left, Rebekah Daily, Henry Cline, middle from left Breanna Lundgreen, Jacen Smith, Marisa Pfeifer, back from left Joshua San Miguel, Carly Purdy and Phinehas Wiezorek.
December 13, 2022
sang in the 2022 All-State Choir that performed on Nov. 18 at UNL’s Lied Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.
This year seniors Carly Purdy (soprano 1), Joshua San Miguel (bass 2), Breanna Lungreen (soprano 2), Jacen Smith (tenor 1); sophomores Marisa Pfeifer (soprano 1), Phinehas Wiezorek (tenor 1), Rebekah Daily (soprano 2); and freshman Henry Cline (bass 1) were performers.
All-State Choir is a competitive, audition-only group. This year 440 Nebraskan students were accepted.
“Being in a choir as large and passionate as the All-State choir is a whole different experience than anything else. It’s an indescribable feeling,” San Miguel said.
Leading up to the performance, students rehearsed with director Sandra Snow, professor of choral conducting and music education at Michigan State University.
“We had a super amazing clinician, and I learned so much from her that I will be able to apply into all the other choral settings that I am in,” Lungreen said.
On the first night, participants surrounded the halls of the Cornhusker Hotel and sang their music down to the people staying in the hotel.
“It reminded me of why we make music,” Smith said.
NPHS choir director Leah Purdy said it’s an honor for the students to be selected for this choir.
“Obviously we are incredibly proud of these students and they have represented NPHS and the community very well,” Purdy said.
Songs included Survival Plan of Sorts music by Melissa Dunphy and words by Amanda Lovelace , When Thunder Comes arranged by Marie Esabel Valverde, Arroz Con Leche arranged by Carlos Guastavino, In Virtute Tua by Grzegorz G. Gorcycki, Ring Out! Ye Crystal Spheres arranged by Stephen Paulus, Nu Oli arranged by Robert Lowry, and Red River Valley arranged by Carol Barnett.
The one consensus from all the 2022 NPHS All-State singers is that the experience was unique and different from anything they had participated in before.
“You’ll never come together with that many people ever again to create something that all of you are super passionate about,” Smith said.
