Guests at HISD’s 2015 State of the Schools luncheon got a side order of entertainment with their meal. Westside High School’s Wind Ensemble of 35 students provided music throughout the program under the guiding hand of Conductor Joey Brunson, and students from 19 HISD elementary schools sang the national anthem.

For the choir, each school was asked to send five of their best fourth- and fifth-grade singers for a total of 95 voices. Marianna Simpson from the fine-arts magnet Parker ES led the group as conductor.

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“We held auditions for students from our mixed choir,” said Travis ES Choir Director Brooke Radcliffe. “Once we had selected our five students, they had to come in before school to practice. We only had about a week to rehearse.”

“My daughter was really, really excited about coming here today,” said Leigh Lewis, whose fourth-grade daughter from Travis sang in the choir. “She started singing about three years ago, when we were living in England. She sang soprano in the church choir there.”

Participating elementary schools were: Askew, Burbank, Burrus, Cage, Herod, Ketelsen, Lovett, Lyons, MacGregor, Parker, Park Place, Pleasantville, Poe, Reagan K-8, River Oaks, Rodriguez, Roosevelt, Travis, and the Rice School.

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