Coming back off a successful year that saw several Marietta High School choir students
receive college scholarships, MHS Choir Director Courteney Starsick-Anderson and her
students are back at it and seeing plenty of successes during the 2025-26 school year.
Beginning September 23,2025, choirs attended the Southeastern All-District Honor
Choir Auditions.
Selected to the junior high honor choir were Meighan Ballard and Ashbye Testerman.
Priscilla Medina made the middle school choir, and Haylen Lowery, Cynthia Lopez,
Kamarah Bertrand, Brice Carlile, Benito Maldanado, Talon Gomez, Shawn Vasquez,
and Dallas Lowery were named to the high school choir.
At the concert, which was held October 23, Haylen Lowery was named a three-year
medalist, a great achievement.
At the East Central Fall Choral Contest, held on October 28, the mixed choir received
an excellent rating, 12 ensembles received superior and excellent ratings, and Haylen
Lawery’s solo received a superior rating.
November 1 was the date for the first round of All-State Honor Choir auditions, with
students from across the state competing for a spot on these prestigious choirs.
Advancing to the second round were Mackenzie Rodriguez in middle school choir and
Meighan Ballard in junior high choir.
High school students advancing to the next round were Brice Carlile, Haylen Lowery,
Dallas Lowery, Talon Gomez, Benito Maldonado, and Shawn Vasquez.
After the second round, Dallas Lowery and Haylen Lowery were named to the All-State
Honor Choir, and Shawn Vasquez was named as an alternate.
Also in November, auditions for Southeastern Oklahoma State University Chorvettes’
Honor Choir were held. Several Marietta students were named to the choir, which will
meet for a rehearsal workshop and concert March 8 through 10, with the concert to be
held on March 10 at 7 p.m.
Students named to the honor choir are Brice Carlile, Dallas Lowery, Kamarah Bertrand,
Shawn Vasquez, Jariah Sutherland, Xiomari Kirses, Haylen Lowery, Claire McGehee,
and Meighan Ballard.
“These kids work so hard, and it’s fantastic to see their work ethic rewarded,” said
Starsick-Anderson.