Front row, from left: Lucy George, Peter Morison, Anna Kimerer, Sunshine Hughes. Back row: Caitlin Crockett, Brenna Williams, Maggie Misterly.
In August 2011, seven singers from the Mountain Empire Children's Choral Academy (MECCA) were chosen to participate in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Voices United Honor Choir.
They include Caitlin Crockett, Lucy George, Sunshine Hughes, Anna Kimerer, Maggie Misterly, Peter Morison, and Brenna Williams.
In addition, Anna, Brenna, Lucy, Peter, and Sunshine were chosen to be soloists. This is made even more impressive by the fact that only nine soloists were chosen overall. The singers worked with Henry Leck, an internationally renowned director, and founder of the Indianapolis Children's Choir. The final concert was presented at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
• Caitlin Crockett , the daughter of David and Melissa Crockett of Johnson City, Tenn., is a sixth grader at Providence Academy. Caitlin has been singing with East Tennessee Children's Choir since January 2011. In the spring of 2011 she auditioned and was accepted to perform with the Voices United Honors Choir. Caitlin performed in the production of Annie at Trinity Arts Center in Johnson City in 2008. She has taken piano lessons and is currently learning to play the flute in band at Indian Trail Middle School. Outside of music, Caitlin enjoys dancing, reading and volleyball.
• Lucy Rose George, daughter of Scott and Janeice George of Kingsport, Tenn., is a home-schooled seventh-grader who has been chosen three times for the OAKE National Honor Choir. Lucy was a member of the East Tennessee Children's Choir for three years and is now a member of the Da Capo ensemble. Lucy studies piano with Monica Case-Harmon and has numerous acting credits including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Barter Theatre and Kingsport Theatre Guild; Annie Jr. with Trinity Arts Studio; and Honk, Wizard of Oz, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever with Kingsport Theatre Guild. Lucy has won many awards in the performing arts including Top Three Overall Child Actor Finalists at AMTC (Orlando, 2010); Overall Best Child Singer in Tri-Cities Talent Contest (2007, 2008); Best Child Singer of Broadway Songs in Tri-Cities Talent Contest (2009); second place in Adult Vocal Division at Netherland Inn Bluegrass Festival (2008); second place in Rogersville Bluegrass Festival (2008), and was a guest artist for Monica Case-Harmon's "Sophisticated Lady" concert series.
• Sunshine Hughes, 13, daughter of Jeff and Rebecca Hughes of Abingdon, Va., is a n eighth-grade student at New Hope Academy in Blountville, Tenn. She was selected to go to the OAKE National Honors Choir for three years, but this is the first year she has attended ACDA. She is in her fifth year as a member of the East Tennessee Children's Choir (ETCC). She has sung with ETCC at Biltmore Estate twice and in Barter Theatre's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She has also appeared in Theatre Bristol productions of Seussical the Musical Jr.; Princess and the Pea; and I Hate Shakespeare. She was recently selected to be a vocal soloist with Symphony of the Mountains and performed with them for three concerts. She has studied piano with Jane Morison for eight years. She is a Gold Cup winner in the Bristol Music Festival. Her interests include acting, singing, playing the piano, and writing.
• Anna Kimerer, 13, daughter of Jeff and Marika Kimerer of Bristol, Tenn., is an eighth-grade honor student at Vance Middle School where she is co-drum major, plays the bassoon, and sings in the Honors Choir. At the ACDA conference, Anna also received the third highest score and was selected to sing in a small group ensemble. She was selected to participate in the OAKE National Honor Choir in Texas where she auditioned and was chosen to be in a national small group ensemble. This is her fourth year with MECCA's East Tennessee Children's Choir. This past year she sang a solo in Barter Theatre's production of Keep on the Sunny Side at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greenville, Tenn. Anna is active with her youth group at Euclid Avenue Baptist Church. She likes to play the piano and run track.
• Maggie Misterly, the daughter of Ken and Nicole Misterly from Elizabethton, Tenn., is a home-schooled eighth-grader. As a member of MECCA, she participated in Barter Theatre's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and sang with the ACDA choir in 2011. Maggie loves all things four-footed and has future plans for a farm. She enjoys reading, sewing, crocheting, spinning wool, and working at a local horse ranch. She is active in her local church with the youth group and helping in the nursery.
• Peter Morison is a seventh-grade honor roll student at Bristol Virginia Middle School. He sings in the East Tennessee Children's Choir and Da Capo ensemble, and plays violin and oboe. As an oboist he has been selected for All-District Band as well as the Virginia Tech Honor Band. A violin student of Jane MacMorran, Peter has won a Gold Cup for classical violin as well as honors for Scottish fiddling. Selected for four years to participate in the OAKE National Honor Choir, Peter was a national soloist in 2010. Peter has appeared in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and It's a Wonderful Life, both at Barter Theatre. In January 2012 he will sing the lead role in Amahl and the Night Visitors being staged at Central Presbyterian Church in Bristol, Va. A Boy Scout, Peter also plays soccer and runs track.
• Brenna Williams, 13, daughter of Steve and Tammy Williams of Johnson City, Tenn., is an eighth-grader at Providence Academy. This is her sixth year in MECCA choirs, and her first trip to an ACDA Honor Chorus. She has been selected three times for the OAKE National Honor Choir. This past year she auditioned and was selected to perform a solo of "In Dreams" from Lord of the Rings with the Symphony of the Mountains Orchestra. She has appeared in community productions of Annie, The Sound of Music, Seussical, Jr., and in Barter Theatre's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She loves volleyball, piano, dance, musical theatre, and singing.
