EKY high school choir makes debut in nation’s capital

CLAY COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT) - Clay County High School choir students spent their spring break singing in Washington, D.C. at the beginning of April.

After being asked to make a visit to represent Kentucky in the nation’s capital roughly one year ago, the students, teachers and their families fundraised and prepared.

The choir students said they found themselves connecting with people across state lines.

“Music really does connect people. People just say that but it’s true,” said Lauren Gray, a Clay County High School senior. “I’ve seen it happen multiple times, and I can’t wait to see it happen for the rest of my life.”

The students found themselves singing throughout the city connecting through music. They had the opportunity to pay a visit to a retirement home and sang to roughly 80 veterans. Something senior Brice Madden said was the experience of a lifetime and choir director Nick Hibbard said was incredible to lead.

“We sang Battle Hymn of the Republic, and in the last chorus I invited them to sing with us, and as they started singing, they all stood up to sing with us. Of course, that was moving for me, and I turned around and even my kids were standing there crying while they were singing,” Hibbard said. “It was just, it was an incredibly emotional experience, and I would love to go back and sing for them. I would go back just for them. I really would,” added Madden.

They also got to sing on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial for the public. Senior Landen Smith said, during the trip, it hit him that all of their hard work had paid off. He said it was the perfect way for many of the choir seniors to end their final year of high school.

“It was very emotional. You know everything kind of hit me that we had got there, and this is my last year. It was a great moment and that was when I realized wow we really did it,” said Smith.

They said they had the opportunity to leave their mark beyond their hometown. As they represented not just Clay County but the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky.

“Clay County is one of the smallest counties and honestly one of the poorest in Kentucky. So, for us to be able to go up there and represent our entire state and do it well,” senior Kylee Roberts said. “I think it really shows that the programs here should not be underestimated. We can just as much as all of the other counties can.”

Hibbard said the school and the students’ parents were incredibly supportive and thanked everyone for the help. The group raised $40,000 to make the trip happen.

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