HUNTSVILLE – This year’s Alabama All-State Chorus includes 10 members from Bob Jones High School Chorus.

These students can be especially proud of their accomplishment this year, because their selection process and qualifications were presented in a new way for students in Alabama — entirely handled in virtual format.

The vocalists from Bob Jones learned the phrasing and dynamics of the audition music and then produced recordings that proved their proficiency on seven pieces of music that were rated with the difficulty and finesse of college level.

Catherine Gagne, Troy Macfarlane, Maddie McInvale, Adam Mercier, Julia Pimmel, Reece Shepherd, Nicole Teper, Isabella Valentin, Olivia Waddell and Zoe Widman are members of the all-state honor group from Bob Jones.

In addition, Reece Shepherd was named Outstanding Choral Student in District V of the Alabama Vocal Association. Shepherd not only satisfied the qualifications for All-State membership but also completed a very extensive application process, interview and a solo audition as his submission for this award.

“Join us in congratulating them for this monumental accomplishment,” Bob Jones Principal Sylvia Lambert said.

Randall Fields is Director of Choral Music at Bob Jones. He has taught chorus and class piano at Bob Jones since 1999.

Fields earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance and a master’s degree in music education from the University of Alabama. Under Fields’ direction, Bob Jones choral ensembles consistently have earned favorable ratings at state performance assessments; competed in Atlanta, Branson, Mo., Chicago, Nashville and Washington D.C.; and performed in some of the world’s most famous venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Vatican.

The All-State Choral Festival is a three-day event that culminates with a professionally recorded concert. The festival is a venue for students with outstanding ability and initiative to receive public recognition, to sing under the direction of nationally recognized choral clinicians and to perform choral literature of the highest quality. (myamea.org)