The 2015-’16 school year took a dramatic turn for the good for the Hays High School Choir as its members rolled to a record showing in auditions for the Region Choir at the Bowie High School-hosted TMEA Region Choir Auditions. Twenty Rebel choir members reached the Region Mixed Choir, with 19 of those qualifying and one placing as an alternate to go on to the Pre-Area auditions set for November 17 at Anderson High School in Austin. Six more of the Charles Flores-directed Rebel choir members earned Treble Choir honors. A total of 26 choir members walked away from the auditions with recognition. It was the largest number of Hays students ever to qualify for the competitive ensemble, and also the highest number ever to qualify for Pre-Area.

Hays singers grabbing Mixed Choir honors included Alayna Bedwell, Taylor Cooper, Emma Cole, Faith Broddrick, Sean Corbett, Mikaela Gotchey, Eboni Jones, Cassidy McMahon, Amrita Thomas, Paul Stumpf, James McDermid, Ben Miller, Dawson Derrick, Ben Hoskins, Michael Samaro (alternate), Joel Ferguson, Elijah Saenz, Seth Lyon and Wesley Ramirez.

Those earning Region Treble Choir honors included Hailey Williams, Li Peiyan, Emily Loosier, Mikayla Tumale, Melinda Hurtado and Ashley Larsen. (Photo by Jim Cullen)