GHS choir members on way to state competition

Five Graham High School choir students have qualified for the State UIL Solo and Ensemble contest. Students who received a Division I rating on a Class 1 music selection at the regional competition, held Feb. 18 at Howard Payne University, and have memorized their selection are accepted into the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Competition. Students at GHS that earned the highest score and qualified for state are Rachel Criswell, Rhaymee Putman, Cassidy Freeman, Celeste Aguirre and Isaiah Salazar. GHS choir teacher Deborah Loesch helped the students to state and through the regional competition and said she is pleased with her students’ progress. “I can’t say how proud I am of my students and I just continue to be amazed at the level of talent that we have here in Graham, Texas,” Loesch said. “These kids are not only just talented singers, these are athletes, these are talented band members who are going to state for band as well, they’re smart with good grades, and just the fact that they are gifted and talented on multiple levels is pretty impressive.” Criswell, a junior at GHS and a self-proclaimed choir enthusiast, has been involved in school choirs for five years and said she has been singing since she was born. She has been impressed with the choir program at GHS and how Loesch has implemented the program and made it her own. For the rest of this story, subscribe to our print or online edition.