Three students from Richmond Hill High School and two from Richmond Hill Middle School recently participated in the 2013 All State Chorus held at Johnny Mercer Theater in Savannah on Feb. 23.
Donovan Nally, Sarah Barry and Pamela Shwayri of RHHS and Gwen Leahy and Arika Johnson of RHMS were five of thousands of students from all over the state of Georgia who auditioned for a limited number of spots.
In the first round of auditions, the students had to sing a prepared solo; major, minor and chromatic scales; sight-read three musical examples in both major and minor keys; and take a music theory test that included musical terms and critical listening skills.  
Once past the first round, the students were given six or seven pieces of choral music they had to learn and then perform for the competition judges.  
RHHS chorus director Jamie Hillen said this year’s all state chorus festival was significant because after 40 years in Savannah, the competition is being moved to Athens for the foreseeable future.  
This year was also notable because Arika Johnson was selected to perform a solo in the song, “Beneath the African Sky” at the final concert, he said.  
“This is the first time in memory that one of our students has been selected for this honor,” he said.