Six talented Meyersdale Area High School students traveled to Portage January 11 through 13 for the 2023 District 6 Chorus Festival. Laura Boyce, Ryan Sechler, James Kretchman, Christian Nave, Avery Logsdon and Shelby Hetz qualified for this annual festival through a rigorous audition process, under the direction of Miss Labrina Ritchey, MASD Choir Director.  At the conclusion of the festival, it was announced that Boyce and Sechler will be advancing to the regional chorus festival in Clearfield on February 23-25th!

The District 6 Chorus Festival was hosted by the Portage Junior-Senior High School and MAHS alumni Addison Holyfield served as the Host Director, along with Philip Parlock II. 

Jeffrey L. Webb was the guest conductor for the two-day event that featured 160 students from 33 schools in District 6. Webb is an Associated Professor of Music/Director of Choral Activities and head of the music department at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. He has also done extensive work in musical theater and is a renowned musical researcher, publishing several works. Webb is an accomplished vocalist, accompanist and musical director. In June of this year, he will make his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in a performance of Vivaldi’s Magnificat.

MAHS students worked with Webb and the members of the District Chorus to perform several selections including: E Oru O; Kyrie, Will There Really be a Morning; America the Beautiful; I Will Be Earth; Viva Tutti; The Awakening; and Worthy To Be Praised. Laura Boyce performed with the Soprano 2 group; Shelby Hetz, Alto 2; James Kretchman, Bass 2; Avery Logsdon, Alto 2; Christian Nave, Tenor 2; and Ryan Sechler was a member of the Bass 2 group.