By Gina Smith
March 19, 2012?

For Lincoln County High School sophomore Caleigh Stackhouse, climbing on a school bus at 5 a.m. is never the easiest thing to do.

This is especially true when it means later that day she will be going in front of peers, spectators and judges to sing a solo.

But that is exactly what she did, singing ?I Dreamed a Dream? from the musical ?Les Mis?rables?. She was one of many from LCHS and Meadow Valley Middle School band and choir that travelled to Laughlin for this years? music festival.

This talented team did an excellent job this year, according to the judges. Every solo received a superior rating, the highest one can receive in the competition. The combined choir also received a superior. And the MVMS and LCHS band received an excellent rating.

The group took on challenging musical pieces. The choir performed ?In Flanders Field?, ?Jordan?s Angels? and ?Homeward Bound?. The MVMS band played ?Summer?s Rain? and ?Invicta? while the LCHS band played ?Be Thou My Vision?, ?Canticle of the Creatures? and ?Fanfare and Fantasia?.

Band and choir director Jacob Lester was pleased with this year?s performance. ?Good marks proves hard work kids put in,? he said.

After each performance the judges give feedback on how the students did, and how they could improve. This year?s judges were chosen by Las Vegas area school districts.

Caleigh Stackhouse has been enjoying her schools’ music program for many years now. She has been in band and choir since 6th grade and has been in several musical plays during her high school career. Her favorite musical instruments to play are the saxophone and guitar. ?When performing the nervousness just kinda goes away because I love it so much,? she said.

You can listen to these musicians yourself at their band and choir concert today at 6:30 p.m. at the Neldon C. Matthews Auditorium in Panaca.