By: Avery Jones

Eaton High School’s tradition of choral excellence shone through in early October when 31 members of the Patriot League Honor Choir were announced. Out of 11 schools in the league, Eaton is home to the largest number of students that made it in to Honor Choir.
Choir director, Christina Contreras said, “Eaton students comprise 40 percent of the entire Honor Choir.” EHS produced 31 students that made it into the choir for the best of the league. Thirty of the original 31 will continue on to perform on October 7 at the Union Colony Civic Center.

According to Contreras, to be accepted into Honor Choir, students must audition by being videotaped singing a pre-assigned piece, a major scale, a major triad, a minor triad, a piece of rhythmic sight reading, and a piece of melodic sight reading. The tapes are submitted to judges who score each student.
The students with the highest scores are put into one of two choirs: Mixed Choir or Women’s Choir.

Women’s Choir Sopranos: Brianna Devore (12), Avery Jones(14), Alexis Truax (13), Priscila Naranjo (13), Sallie Croissant (13), Cassie Maack (13), and MaryBeth Garcia (12). Melanie Mackey (12), Aarika Bookhamer (14), Bre Robertson (15), Allysa Berg (15), Maija Brown (15), Stefanie Untiedt (13), Ciera Kieler (13), Shyan Martinez (12),  Alto: Shelby Nelson (14)

Mixed Choir Sopranos: Maria Becci (12), Rachel Selby (13), Wendy Watson (13), Alex Sanford (12), and Mishayla Stephenson (14). Altos: Karissa Kuntz (13), Martha Rincon (12), Teesha Prichard (12), and Alicia Delgado (12). Tenors: Chad Foos (14) and Jerry Cruz (13) Bass: Mckyler Korth (13), Marcus Longwell (13), and Hayden Johnson (12).
Patriot League Honor Choir is an activity that requires 7:15am rehearsals once a week and no in-school practice time.  Johnson said learning the music is the hardest part of Honor Choir. Johnson said, “We have one practice a week. Other than that, we have to learn it all on our own. Me and Mckyler and Marcus try to practice together whenever we can.”
Selby said, “I’m very excited about it. It’s really fun and it’s cool to meet new people in a completely new experience.”