Eight Students Represent Leigh at Honor Choir
For the sixth consecutive year, Leigh choir students joined with the many voices of surrounding schools at the Boone Central Honor Choir to put forth an amazing production. Monday, January 12, 2026, brought the 80th annual celebration of this event, where over 200 students from a combined 14 schools participated in a one-day choral clinic, mounting to an evening concert. Under the direction of Boone Central alum Dr. Adam Zrust and the piano accompaniment of Leta Liesch, Vivian Bunner, Mia Glissman-Mayner, Sofia Hake, Elizabeth Hoffman, Sydney Messerlie, Ariyah Ross, Jordan Whitlinger, and Kiera Wiese practiced many hours for the show.
The choir performed songs such as “Connected” by Brian Tate, “The Pasture” by Z. Randall Stroope, “River in Judea” arranged by John Leavitt, and “Love is Love is Love is Love” by Abbie Betinis. Inviting school conductors and past attendees to join in, they finished with a grand finale “Battle Hymn of the Republic” in unison with the Boone Central High School Band. Throughout the concert, certain schools also performed their own special selections.
Senior Soprano Sydney Messerlie said, “As a person who has been there for 4 years in a row, it never fails to disappoint me. We did two songs from freshman year to this year and it made my heart melt. It was a way of wrapping up the last BC Honor Choir for me. I felt exactly like I did freshman year, well, except older. It never fails to disappoint and this is one of the high school experiences I’ll never forget.”
“Our students did an outstanding job representing our school at the 80th Annual Boone Central Honor Choir, demonstrating both musical skill and professionalism,” stated Leigh Music Teacher Mrs. Sydney Wemhoff. “The songs they sang this year were fun and challenging, and it was a great experience as always for this group!”