Seven members of the Lufkin High School Choir Program advanced to Area competition this year.

LHS Senior Koryn Currier earned first chair in the Alto 1 competition, and senior Paige Hoelewyn earned first chair in Soprano 2. Sophomore JaNyla Wilkerson earned second chair in Alto 1, and senior Samantha Standley earned second chair in Soprano 2. Senior Graham Childers earned third chair in Tenor 2, sophomore Adam Awtrey earned third chair in Bass 1, and junior Jaylen Sowell earned fourth chair in Alto 1.

This year, 15 LHS students auditioned for Area and made it to the Pre-Area Competition, held here in November. Around 240 students from many schools — including Jacksonville, Nacogdoches, Tyler and Whitehouse — competed at the event.

“This was Lufkin’s first year hosting the competition, so to host it and set everything up was very exciting,” LHS Choir Director Nicole Stewart said.

During the competition, students did sight-reading, in which they had to sing pieces of music they hadn’t seen.

“The sight-reading exercise was very challenging,” LHS Choir student Jaylen Sowell said.

 The LHS students who advanced to Area will compete for a spot in the All-State Choir at their final round of competition, on Jan. 11 in Waco. The All-State Choir will meet for three days in San Antonio, where they will learn and perform new songs.