Autumn Marshall and Rachel Harris had reason to celebrate after performing at the District 12 Music Festival on March 2 at Fort Zumwalt East High School.

Marshall and Harris found out they will be the Montgomery County representatives at the State Music Festival in April at Columbia after turning in exemplary marks for their solo performances at districts. Marshall qualified for state for the second time, while Harris will make her first state appearance. Any soloist or group receiving an exemplary score clinches a state berth.

Marshall, a senior, sang “A Little China Figure” and “American Lullaby” at districts. She said she was thrilled with her solo performances at districts.

“I was very excited to get a 1 for my senior year,” Marshall said. “Being a senior and getting to go to state is definitely one of my biggest accomplishments. Not only I’m graduating, but I also get to go to state and compete. If I get a 1 at state, I swear my dreams will come true.”

Two years ago at districts, Marshall qualified for state after receiving an exemplary mark for her solo performances of “The Lass from the Low Countree” and “Beneath the Weeping Willow’s Shade.” She also helped the sextet group – which also included Kaia Mayes, Alexa Green, Hailie Dixon, Kaitlin Nelson and Pae’ten Blake – advance to state with an exemplary performance of “Forget Me Not” and “In The Highlands.”

Harris, a sophomore, earned exemplary marks for her solo efforts of “The Lass from the Low Countree” and “I Attempt from Love’s Sickness” at districts.

“I thought it’s an honor, honestly,” Harris said. “We worked hard to get our solos. We put a lot of work in with a lot of help from Mrs. (MCHS music director Pam) Walton. It’s more dedication and hard work and I’m glad that I am able to move on and go to state.”

Marshall said she is happy that she will be going to state with Harris.

“This is the first time I will be going to state with someone younger than me,” the senior said. “It’s really nice to have someone younger than me going with me because I can kind of show her the ropes and show her what is going to be like. It’s really hard to get into state. It’s a really challenging thing. I’m so proud of Rachel for getting in her sophomore year like I did.”

The State Music Festival is scheduled for April 25-27 at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Harris said she can’t wait for the event.

“I’m a little nervous about it, but hopefully I can impress the judges and get a good score,” the sophomore said.

Marshall and Harris also competed with the Honors Choir at districts. The group earned outstanding marks for its performances of “You Have Wings to Fly” and “Make a Joyful Noise,” but didn’t qualify for state.

“I wished we could have gotten a 1 for contest for the entire choir group,” Marshall said. “We actually messed up during one of our songs for contest. We kind of skipped a whole page and a half of the song by accident. We were all kind of bummed about it, but you just have to get over it and keep going. I was a little bummed out, but I got over it, kept pushing and got a 1.”

Harris, who also sings for the Mineola Baptist Church choir, said she enjoys being a part of the MCHS choir after two years.

“I’m really liking it,” Harris said. “I’m glad that our choir is like a little family. We know each other and we sing well together.”

Addison Brower, Dakota Marion and Carl Smith earned outstanding ratings for their solo performances and Sara Meyer had a developing rating for her solo effort. Band students who competed at districts were Josh Cobb (tuba), Lexy Veach (tenor saxophone), Aiden Christian (baritone saxophone) and Luke Eggen (French Horn solo) and all of them received outstanding marks.