The Selma Times-Journal

A mesh of 110 young angelic voices, the Selma High School Choir is in high demand not only in the Queen City, but the nation.

Led by director Latresha Woods, the choir has been booked solid since the beginning of the school year. And there is a very good reason to justify their busy schedule &045; soul stirring and uplifting vocal talent.

The choir has performed in various venues throughout Selma, including city council meetings, the first city tree lighting ceremony and U.S. Rep. Artur Davis’ congressional town hall meeting.

The choir rehearses after school three days a week. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the entire choir practices and on Wednesdays, section leaders rehearse. Woods said rehearsal usually lasts from an hour and a half to two hours.

Both the evening and early morning rehearsals have paid off and the choir is gaining a positive reputation throughout the country.

Last month, the choir traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio, to perform at a worship service at a local community center. In January, the group will travel to Huntsville for a recording project. Woods said her goal is for the recording project to become a yearly choir tradition.

In February, the choir will go to Decatur, Ga., to attend the True Love Waits conference and plans to hosts its own choral festival, inviting other choirs from around the area.

After Decatur, the choir will travel to Montgomery to take part in the Carver-Lanier choir festival in March and during spring break, the group will embark on a spring concert tour in California, passing through Pasadena, Los Angeles and Hollywood.

The group has received such positive feedback that organizers in Cincinnati want to pay travel expenses for the choir to return for an encore performance.

Tenor section leader and junior Collins Pettaway III has been a choir member for three years. He said his experience has been nothing but great.

Woods said the choir would not be as successful it weren’t for the students, her assistant Marcus Martin and accompanist Rodney Holdman.

On Sunday, the choir will perform at a Christmas celebration in the Selma High School auditorium at 5 p.m. Admission is free, but Woods said the choir does honor donations.