Saturday, March 22, 2025
SYLVAN GROVE – Sylvan-Lucas Unified High School is so proud to recognize two of their music students for their selection to the Kansas Music Educator's All-State High School Mixed Choir. Hannah Pahls, a senior vocal student, is the daughter of Brent and Jennie Pahls of Sylvan Grove. She will be recognized at the State Choir Concert for her three years of participation in a State Vocal Choir. Macie Ortiz, daughter of Jessica and Terry Loveland and Angel and Valerie Ortiz, has been selected to an All-State Choir for the past two years. She is a junior and is from Wilson, Kansas.
These girls were selected to the All-State Mixed Choir via a rigorous audition process that starts at the District level. Students with top audition scores who perform at the District level are then eligible for selection to the All-State Choirs. The 256 musicians who were selected are truly "the best of the best" from schools of every size over the entire State of Kansas. The students in the All-State Performance groups are also at the top of all Kansas students in ACT scores and academic success. Selection to the All-State Music Groups opens many opportunities for music scholarships in Kansas colleges and universities.
The Kansas Music Educator's Convention, held at Century II Convention Center in Wichita, Kansas from Feb. 27 through March 1, 2025 is the site for all rehearsals and concerts for these musicians. The concert for the Treble and Mixed Choirs will be held at Century II on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $7 and include both concerts.
The clinician for the Mixed Choir is Shannon Jeffreys. She is the Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Dean for Student Experience in the College of Arts and Humanities at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. Before coming to Georgia Southern, Jeffreys served as Director of Vocal Studies at Erskine College and Theological Seminary. She holds degrees in Music Performance and Conducting from Burmingham Southern College, the University of Mississippi, and the University of South Carolina.
Both Macie and Hannah are vocal students of Mrs. Janet Seehafer.
