MOUNTAIN VIEW —Gaven Norris, a junior at MVHS, braved the cold weather and treacherous roads recently to participate in the elite Wyoming All-State Jazz Honor Ensemble Choir under the direction of Director, Kerry Marsh.

Norris was one of 24 singers selected for the group and only one of the five basses selected from across Wyoming to sing in Casper at the Natrona County High School auditorium in conjunction with the All-State Jazz Band players.

“Gaven is just such a trooper,” MVHS choral director Kayleigh Bluemel said. “He put his time in not only in preparation for the concert, but also all the way back in October when he went through the audition process.”

Mountain View music teacher Vonda Phillips also attended the All-State Jazz concert and commented on Norris representing one of the smaller schools from which students are selected. “This is just such an honor for Mountain View and our district,” Phillips said. “Gaven is such a good example and there was only one other school with a representative that is smaller than Mountain View. Gaven was definitely competing against some of the largest choir programs in the state.”

UCSD #4 would also like to thank Rock Springs Band Director Brian Redmond for assisting with travel during the recent weather-related road shut down. “We know Brian so well and he is always so accommodating when it comes to helping a student, especially for something of this importance. For a young person to be selected for something like that as a junior is really quite an honor,” Phillips said.  

Norris also participated in All-State Choir earlier in January in Sheridan and will be traveling to Bellevue, Wash.; in February for the illustrious and select All-Northwest Choir.