For the first time in several years, the choir program has taken the UIL Sweepstakes award–for not only one, but two choirs.

Under the direction of Spencer Wiley, the Varsity Lion Hearts and Mixed Women’s choir both earned Superior (1 on a 1-5 scale) ratings across the judging board for both concert and sight reading competition. The Lion Hearts haven’t been able to accomplish this for the past two years; for the Mixed Women’s Choir, it was ten.

“I’m proud of my kids, as well as their work ethic,” Wiley said. “This is my first year here, so we weren’t sure how much work would be required to get to the Sweepstakes level. But they trusted me and worked hard every step of the way.”

The groups have only been practicing their concert competition music since January. The Varsity Lionhearts sang “Music, When Soft Voices Die,” “Adoramus Te” and “Der Tanz.” The Mixed Women’s choir sang “May,” “Non Nobis Domine” and “The Violet.”

“I wanted to choose music that held a wide range of styles,” Wiley said. “I wanted different tempos, different volumes. I wanted a chance to show the different strengths.”

Wiley has set his expectations high for next year’s choir students now that they’ve made Sweepstakes.

“We’ve reached the mountaintop,” Wiley said. “I intend for us to stay there.”

The choir program will hold its final concert of the 2014-2015 season on May 29. The venue will be in the PAC and feature upbeat pop music.