WBMS students make All-State Chorus
BY SCOTT PAGE Gulf Breeze News scott@gulfbreezenews.com

Submitted Photo Gina Lavere performs with her students at the recent Navarre Arts Festival.

Seven students in Gina Lavere's chorus program at Woodlawn Beach Middle School were selected to the All- State Chorus Choir.

Eighth-graders Emily Albaugh, Hannah Davenport, Alexis Denny, Phillip Reynolds, Rhiannon Reynolds, Kayla Wise and seventh-grader Chris Snow all traveled to Tampa Jan. 9-12.

"They're part of the 300 best middle school singers in the state of Florida," Lavere said.

Auditions began way back in September of 2007 and the entire process consists of three levels of auditions.

The first audition tests the students understanding of music theory. One week later they had to sight-read 24 measures of music.

The students had never seen the pieces prior to the audition, and were required to sing at least eight measures perfectly to advance.

"One of our girls, Rhainnon Reynolds scored a perfect 24 this year," Lavere said.

The third, and final, audition was the toughest, and students were given a full month to prepare. They had to learn five pieces of music before singing them in front of three judges.

Submitted Photo Woodlawn Beach Middle's All-State selections

"The kids even had to sing pieces in other languages such as German and Latin," Lavere said.

Those who make it through the auditioning process are rewarded with the experience of a lifetime. Once in Tampa, the kids rehearsed for two days before they performed with the All-State Chorus.

"Just being in the [All-State] Chorus was a great reward for the hard work we put in," said Wise.

"There were a lot of kids in the choir, so it was a lot of fun," Denny added.

Due to the lack of chorus programs in the county, many kids are unable to participate.

"That's the reason I want to go to Navarre [High School]," said Denny. "Chorus is so much fun and I want to continue doing it."

With funding that is hard to find and a new legislative proposal to increase physical education participation, chorus programs are in jeopardy.

"This is my seventh year at WBMS, and I feel like its is such a blessing to have such a great administration," said Lavere.