Record nine LHS students selected for All-State Choir

By: 
David Peck

The selection process for the Wyoming All-State Music awards is complete, and for Lovell High School, it was a bountiful harvest of honors.

Nine Lovell High School students were selected for the Wyoming All-State Choir, which is believed to be a record for LHS.

“I checked the archives that go back to 1995, and this is a record at least back that far,” LHS music director Carisa French said. “Each section has 20 students for a total of 160 singers, and we have nine.”

The honors list is topped by senior Jarrett Allen, singing bass 1, who has been chosen for All-State all four years of his high school career.

Also selected were senior James Blau, Tenor 1, second year; senior Whitney Hendershot, Alto 2, second year; sophomore Wilson Hendershot, Bass 2, first year; sophomore Grady Henley, Bass 1, first year; junior Jay Mayes, Bass 2, second year; senior Parker Steenbakkers, Tenor 2, first year; junior Damian Wagner, Tenor 2, third year; and sophomore Kenley Wilson, Alto 2, first year. (The numerals 1 and 2 denote higher or lower parts, with 1 being higher than 2 for each part.)

Senior Taggart Shumway was also selected for the Wyoming All-State Jazz Ensemble by the Wyoming Jazz Educators organization on the baritone saxophone.

Allen has tried out for and been selected for the Bass 1 part for all four years of his high school career. He attributes his success to his family and his teachers. He said his father, Josey, comes from a musical family, and his parents Josey and Jill enrolled him in piano lessons when he was 8.

“That helped me understand music and continues to help me today,” he said. “My teachers have been really supportive. Mrs. (Emily) Asay made sure that we practiced and were ready for our auditions, and Mrs. (Carisa) French is the same. That has done a lot to help me succeed.”

After graduation next spring, Allen plans to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he said he would love to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and major in mechanical engineering.

“That’s my dream school,” he said, adding that his second choice would be BYU, where his parents attended. Also a trombonist in the LHS band, he hopes to stay involved in music during college.

French noted the qualities and attributes of each of her all-state choir members.

For Allen, she said being selected all-state for four years is “a high honor in the state,” adding that he has performed for four years in Show Choir and Concert Band and is band representative in the Music Presidency.

“He has a great way of keeping things serious all while keeping us all entertained,” French said. “He’s a talented singer, trombone player, helper and joke teller.”

Wagner is tenor section leader in Jazz Choir and is in his second year in the auditioned choir, French said, adding, “When not singing, he can be found playing one of the pianos.”

French said Mayes is a two-year member of Show Choir, adding, “Jay is not only a great and natural singer, but he’s a natural actor and great addition to our drama program.”

Blau was selected All-State as sophomore and again this year. He is in Show Choir for the fourth year, the second year as tenor section leader.

“James has an amazing singing range and a great ear,” French noted. “He’s making a name for himself as a soloist recently.”

Whitney Hendershot was also selected as sophomore and again this year. She has performed with show choir for four years and is in her second year as alto section leader. 

“Whitney is known for her leadership skills throughout the school and in her many activities. Her leadership in choir keeps us all going,” French said.

Wilson Hendershot is a two-year member of Show Choir, French said, adding, “Wilson started out singing tenor, but we soon realized he has a very cool low bass voice.”

Henley is a two-year member of Show Choir, French said, adding, “Grady lives for performing, drama and singing.”

Steenbakkers is the choir representative of music presidency and has been a member of Show Choir three years.

“Parker loves to have fun, but he can be serious and get the work done when challenged,” French said.

Wilson is a two-year member Show Choir.

“Kenley is a dedicated singer and also is known as a dedicated golfer,” French said. “Either way, she’s good for a hole in one.”

French noted that Shumway is one of only two bari sax players in the state selected for the All-State Jazz Ensemble. He is in his fourth year with the LHS band and is the saxophone section leader.

The WJE All-State Jazz Band and Choir will gather at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne January 6-7, and the Wyoming All-State Music Festival is scheduled for January 19-21 at South High School in Cheyenne, with the All-State Gala Concert to be held at the Cheyenne Civic Center on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Freshman Walker selected 

for All-State Choir

Rocky Mountain High School freshman Alex Walker has been selected for the 2025 Wyoming All-State Choir and will join 159 other select singers from around Wyoming in Cheyenne January 19-21.

“As a freshman, Alex has been a great addition to our choir program,” RMHS music director Gerry Burton said. “He has a rich bass voice and is not afraid to sing out. He utilizes his voice singing bass and tenor in the choir and during the musicals in the spring.

“He also plays an amazing clarinet, with which he won the room in the Showalter Music Festival last year. He’s an outstanding, well rounded musician and student.”

Walker will perform with other all-state choir, band and orchestra members January 21 in the All-State Gala Concert at the Cheyenne Civic Center.

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