Sidney High School Octet to perform at boys state basketball title game

The Sidney boys basketball team isn't the only group from the school to appear in the state tournament.

Eight members of the Sidney High choir will perform the national anthem at the Class D1 boys basketball state championship game in Lincoln at 9 a.m. CST on Saturday, March 12.

Sidney's choir was chosen out of 135 audition recordings by the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA). According to Dan Masters, NSAA assistant director, the state organization posted that it would accept auditions to preform at various school athletic events.

"The post was sent out for auditions in August, and we received 135 from schools across the state," Masters said. "There are only 34 performances."

The NSAA committee scored each audition and narrowed them down to the 34 performances. One of the schools chosen was Sidney High School.

David Mead, the SHS choir director since 1996, said he had to choose eight of the choir students to perform at state. Mead said he chose the students based on students "who were the leaders in the group and vocal abilities."

The octet chosen is compiled of two sopranos, two baritones, two altos and two tenors. The eight students who will sing at the state tournament are Abbie Fraas, Jonathon Stokes, Logan Uhlir, Megan Neal, Ben Goble, Jolene Oliverius, Austin Jacobsen and Destiny Backer.

Fraas, a junior, is a soprano in the octet. Fraas said she has been singing since she was 7, starting out in a youth choir and various other small choirs.

"My mom used to listen to Bach and Mozart and I was inspired to pursue music," she said.

Fraas hopes to pursue her music career into college, possibly looking into vocal performance or music therapy.

"I am very excited to preform at such a large event," she said.