Members of the Patriot Choir were recently selected to represent Wheeling Park High School in Charleston, West Virginia at the West Virginia Music Educators Association All-State Choir March 6th and 7th of 2025.

Many students at Wheeling Park immerse themselves in the arts, but for some, they’ve gone the extra mile to participate in their passion of singing outside of the learning environment. After weeks of preparation, those auditioning for the All-State Choir were ready to put their skills to the test.

“Audition day was stressful, but so rewarding. We were given cuts of each song we had prepared and sang in front of judges in mixed arrangement,” said senior Ciera Faulstick.

The auditions were held at John Marshall High School. Finally, the evening of auditions, students were notified on if they had been selected.

“It took a lot of practice, but we were all so happy our work paid off, with Mrs. Greenwood’s help of course,” said Faulstick.

For the chosen individuals, this is more than just an opportunity to showcase their talent, but even more so a way to participate in something bigger than a high school choir.

“Being chosen for the All-State Choir means a lot to me. It’s honestly an honor getting to be able to be part of a large choir that is made up of people from all over the state,” said Mia Holmes, a junior at Wheeling Park.

The students that have been selected throughout the entire state of West Virginia share one thing, a beautiful passion for music and singing.

“It’s a really memorable experience and it changes your perspective on choir. It’s really nice to be able to join other people who share the same passion as you do,” said Holmes.

Selected students from Wheeling Park High School include Landen Smeltz, Brodye Tustin, Kaleb Trimmier, Landon McKeegan, Grace Robertson-Villamagna, Ciera Faulstick, Mia Holmes, and Emma McPherson.