Vocalists take musicality to next pitch with All-State Honor Choir

Seniors Bekah Dickey and Julia Rindt have advanced to the California Choral Directors Association (CCDA) All-State Honor Choir and will participate next month at the 2025 California Association of School Music Educators Conference in Sacramento.
The All-State recognition is the latest in the vocalists’ achievements. Their journey to Sacramento began in September when they first auditioned and were selected to perform Nov. 7-9 with the CCDA Central Region Honor Choir in Fresno.  Based on this performance and their original audition score rankings in comparison to the other regional choirs, they were selected to perform at the state level.
The audition process consisted of singing a solo in a different language and being tested in their abilities to sing different scales and sight read.
“My audition consisted of an art song of my choice, followed by tonal memory testing, scales and triads, and sight singing,” recalls Dickey.
By advancing to the All-State Honor Choir, Dickey and Rindt will be able to sing their hearts out with other music students in the top 15 percent of California. What’s more, world-class conductors will mentor them in their performances.
“I was super excited and proud of myself!” said Rindt. “I had a lot of fun at the regional one, so I was really hoping to get into All-State. I’m really happy both me and Bekah got in!”
Other high schools in Kern County will be sending their polished musicians to All-State. While Stockdale High School and Bakersfield High School have significantly higher student populations than Burroughs, we have two representatives compared to Stockdale’s three and Bakersfield’s one.
“I think this reflects well on our high-achieving music students at Burroughs and the trajectory of our music programs as a whole,” said BHS Music Teacher Amber Petersen. “I am thrilled with the representation that these students provide our school and our music program. This will surely be a musical highlight from their high school experience and perhaps their life,” said Petersen.
Dickey and Rindt are familiar to local audiences, with an abundance of performance-centered extracurriculars on their plates. They serve as co-drum majors for the BHS marching band, are section leaders in the Madrigal ensemble, and recently performed in BHS Drama’s “The Outsiders.”
Dickey spent a good portion of her childhood singing in musical theater and her church congregations. Her music involvement is spread out throughout the band and choral programs on campus and ensembles in Ridgecrest. She plays a variety of instruments, including clarinet, piano, alto sax, French horn, and voice.
“My love for choral music has blossomed and grown alongside the program,” said Dickey.
Rindt began participating in her church’s children’s choir at a young age. Rindt is part of symphonic and marching band, symphonic orchestra, choir, and Madrigals. She is a member of the Cerro Coso College band and Cal State Bakersfield’s Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Both performers were recently cast in major roles in the spring musical, “Annie.”