The Gretna High School Choir Department has always blended hard work with a sense of community. This year, that approach allowed a record-setting 33 students to be selected to the Nebraska All-State Choir, topping all other schools.
This achievement reflects not only students’ talent but also the program’s emphasis on teamwork, dedication and personal growth.
“I was really proud of all the kids that made it, and especially proud of all the underclassmen, because quite a few of them made it this year, and that’s pretty rare,” choir director Katelynn Wallace said. “They do it for fun, but also they’re in it to win it.”
Wallace said the program’s success comes from a mix of dedication and community.
“I think it brings people together,” Wallace said. “That’s the biggest thing and the reason I did it. I fell in love with the people, and I think that’s a huge reason why people get involved in high school [activities] is to kind of define their people and to find their group, and then they fall in love with the process. It allows people to find a safe space to be themselves and to have a whole heck of a lot of fun.”
For the students, All-State is more than just an audition. Junior Elizabeth Wegner has been selected for All-State choir both this year and her sophomore year.
“It’s given me the opportunity to do something I really enjoy and have fun doing,” Wegner said. “It’s made me more detail-oriented and confident and all that jazz.”
As the program grows, students like Wegner have found that choir shapes them in ways that go far beyond music class. The relationships built inside the rehearsal room have become a defining part of the experience.
“I think our choir program is really successful just because we’re all so close and connected,” Wegner said, “and that gives people the space to be confident and courageous with what they’re doing. And I think that makes us stand out because it’s just for each other.”
The choir’s success isn’t only the result of student commitment. There’s a guiding force behind the scenes that helps shape the group’s standards.
“I think, especially our directors, they’re very good, and they’re very focused on excellence and pushing us to be the best we can, especially in All-State,” Wiedrich said.
The path to All-State selection requires discipline and patience. Audition pieces are not released until the day before the audition, so many students have little time to prepare. Upperclassmen learn an overview of the music in class, while underclassmen get the opportunity to participate in a few workshops before and after school, right before their audition.
Wallace emphasized how the program encourages participation at all levels.
“We really strongly encourage the concert choir students, but we had over 50% of the bass-clef students volunteer to try out,” Wallace said. “I just tell the kids it was such an influential moment of my high school singing career, and I think that drives them to want to try out.”
Once students commit to auditioning, the preparation quickly becomes part of their daily routine, squeezed in between schoolwork, rehearsals and everything else competing for their time.
“(We did) a lot of practicing and just running things over and over again,” Wegner said. “But in the end, it’s worth it to reach your goal.”
Wallace said what sets Gretna apart is the balance between fun and seriousness.
“Quite frankly, I think we have a lot of fun, and we’re pretty goofy, and even though we’re really serious about doing well and competing at a high level, we also laugh a lot, and I think that makes people want to be a part of the program,” Wallace said.
For students, the experience of All-State is as much about growth as it is about performance. Sophomore Drake Holland was excited for the opportunity to branch out to other schools and meet new people through an activity they all love.
“I’m really excited to meet people from other schools and hang out with my friends, and just overall sing,” Holland said.
For GHS, the record-breaking 33 selections are more than just a number. They represent a program that blends hard work, fun, mentorship and community. The achievement showcases a choir where students not only grow as musicians but also as individuals. They become more confident, connected and ready to carry the lessons of their choir family into whatever may come next.
“Whatever they decide to do in their life, whatever they pursue, they should give it 100 percent,” Wallace said. “I always tell the kids, like, I am not a fan of mediocrity. In my opinion, if you’re going to do something, let’s be brilliant at it.”
