Choral students from Pagosa Springs demonstrated their vocal talent and musicianship at the highly selective 2026 Western Slope Honor Choir Festival, held at Western Colorado University in Gunnison. The festival, which drew from 15 high schools of all sizes across the state, culminated in a spectacular performance after three days of intensive rehearsal.
Eight students in grades nine through 12 from the Pagosa area were selected to participate in the festival’s two honor choirs — the Mixed Choir and the Treble Choir — following auditions held in the fall. Out of the 371 total applicants from around the state who auditioned, only 152 students were accepted into one of the festival’s choirs.
The Valor Voices Choir from Pagosa Valor Academy was proudly represented by seven students:
• Mixed Choir: Samantha Abraham, Hudson Mazur and Connor Thomas.
• Treble Choir: Grace Cram, Annaliese Hinger, Avonlea Thomas and Evie Welsh-Rhodes.
Additionally, one student from Pagosa Springs High School (PSHS), Olive Fladwood, was selected for the Treble Choir.
Students had the privilege of working under two master clinicians.
The Mixed Choir was led by Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, an internationally renowned conductor and composer, who has conducted concerts in over 26 countries, including directing Vatican Mass 12 times and 41 concerts at Carnegie Hall, and has published more than 200 musical works. Under his direction, the Mixed Choir performed challenging compositions, including two powerful pieces by Stroope: the dramatic “Revelation” and “Hands,” a work inspired by deaf and blind pianist Helen May Martin.
Notably, Connor Thomas was featured as a bass soloist in “Revelation” and Mazur as an American Sign Language performer in “Hands.”
The Treble Choir was conducted by Myriam Núñez Pertucé.
Núñez is a professor in music education and director of the Arts Education Choir at the University of Los Lagos in Puerto Montt, a city in southern Chile.
The Treble Choir was challenged to sing most of their concert repertoire a cappella (without accompaniment), including three pieces entirely in Spanish.
Leo Baughman, music director for PSHS, was proud to congratulate Fladwood for her performance at Western Slope Honor Choir, stating, “The three days of rehearsal culminated in an amazing performance.”
“It was a great weekend, a first for several students, to have the opportunity to sing with other students from across the state and learn from masters,” noted Kathleen Martinez, director of Valor Voices. “We are so thankful for the opportunity provided both by Pagosa Valor Academy and Western Colorado University.”
“It was great to get to sing under an amazing conductor and composer,” added Connor Thomas, senior Valor Voices member. “As an aspiring composer myself, it was a privilege to talk with Dr. Stroope individually about how he composes and makes money as a musician.”
Baughman and Martinez were also featured in the festival’s Director’s Choir, which began the concert.
The Western Slope Choral Festival completed the performance season for Valor Voices. It will restart during the 2026-2027 school year.
The PSHS Concert Choir will have one more regional choral event on April 21 at the Intermountain League Choral Festival in Bayfield.
Its spring season will culminate at the Archuleta School District Combined Choral Concert on May 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the PSHS auditorium. This concert will feature the PSHS Concert Choir, Pagosa Springs Middle School fifth- and seventh-grade choirs, and a fourth-grade honor ensemble.
Correction
Mazur and Connor Thomas participated in the Tenor-Bass Choir of the Colorado All State Choir Festival, not the Mixed Choir as was reported in last week’s issue.
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