Local senior selected for National Honor Choir by Kelsey Mills

“If you feel like you're good enough to sing and perform, just go out there and reach out to people.” This comes from Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School senior Amy Peet and she sure knows what being good is.

After sending in a video-audition and letter about her musical experience, including her being in Maine’s All-State Choir last year as a Junior, Peet has been selected as a member of the 2013 All-National Honors Ensemble. The Ensemble is sponsored by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). 
The NAfME organization includes a concert band, symphony orchestra, jazz ensemble, and mixed chorus. Peet performed with the mixed chorus as a soprano. The chorus has around 350 singers, and all four ensembles will perform in front of an audience of thousands for the gala concert in Nashville's Presidential Ballroom of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.

Peet is one of 12 students selected for this honor from Maine. She joined more than 670 of the most musically gifted high school students in the United States for a gala concert onOct. 30 in Nashville. 

All chosen performers prepared challenging music pieces and performed under the leadership of four of the United States' most prominent conductors. 

When she received the award, Peet was “really excited and [almost] jumping up and down.” Having started choir in fifth grade, Peet has been singing since she was very young. She participated in All-States last year. Peet's main instruments are the flute and piccolo, and she has been playing these since fifth grade also. She is now learning to play guitar, tuba, and oboe. 
Peet has been working toward the goal of being in the National Honor Choir since the start of her high school career. Dennis Boyd, her music teacher, has been helping her.

“It is important to know that Amy has done the bulk of the work. Amy is a largely self-directed learner,” Boyd says. “I am proud of Amy and of the choral department we have. All of the students perform at the best of their ability.”

Photo by Jill Piper
OHCHS student and singer, Amy Peet