High Point student earns highest honors

SUSSEX BOROUGH — High Point Regional High School Senior Hannah Orr earned the highest honor by being selected to “All-Eastern Mixed Chorus.” The All-Eastern encompasses outstanding high school students from 11 states — Maine through Maryland.
During her audition for All-State Choir — the top honor in New Jersey, of which she was a member for two years, Orr placed within the top 20 sopranos of New Jersey. The final criteria for All-Eastern was her résumé of musical excellence.
“It's a really great honor," Orr said. "I'm really happy about it;” and it was one of her goals coming into high school.
Choral and Theater Director Theresa Riccardi said, she is extremely proud of Hannah, who is a great musician, leader, and role model to the choral students. On top of that, Riccardi added, she is incredibly dedicated, works hard, and aspires for excellence in everything she sets out to do.
Orr is part of: choir, where she is section leader, Chamber Singers, Madrigal Singers, and Women's Ensemble, where she is section leader and student director. She also plays flute and piccolo, holds the principal chair, is section leader, and marched in band, of which she was drum major. In addition, she is involved in the the theater program, has been a member of All- North Region Chorus and County Chorus multiple times, and sang at NJPAC and Atlantic City with All-State Chorus.
As a member of All-Eastern Mixed Chorus, she will represent High Point and N.J. this February and perform at the National Association for Music Education Eastern Division Conference in Atlantic City.
This year N.J. hosts the conference, so Orr said, a lot more people can come.
Orr said she remembers her mom singing tenor in the church choir, inspiring her to really enjoy music from a young age; she liked listening to her mom. She also has a running joke with her dad about his singing abilities.
The High Point music program, Orr said, “is amazing.” She added she would not be going into college for music if it were not for the choral program, its many opportunities, and role models: Riccardi, Assistant Choral Director Dori Martin, and everyone.
In the future, Orr wants to double major in music education and vocal performance. She said her dream is to get her masters in choral conducting.
Riccardi said High Point has an incredible amount of talented, gifted students in the performing arts, including choir, band, and theater. She continued, Orr is a perfect example of what one can achieve by taking in every possible opportunity in high school. She said she is proud of the program and being able to help and guide people who have the gift of the arts.
Supervisor of Humanities Aldo Deodino said, the performing arts program allows students to explore their passions. He said when students have the opportunity to explore, “You end up with a result like this.” He continued, they fully support their students and staff.
Kind, well-spoken Orr offered her homemade maraschino cherry chocolate fudge cookies, while Martin explained, “With the last two concerts coming up, we just absolutely could not do it without Hannah. She's the glue holding us all together.”
Riccardi concluded they had so many musical groups this year, they broke into two concerts. — Candle Light and Holiday Pops Concert — She said it was unusual and also exciting.