Twelve Madras High School choir students will be attending the Music in May Festival from May 24 through 26 at Pacific University in Forest Grove.

“Music in May is a choir, band and orchestra festival that's been going since the 1940's,” said choir director George Klos. “It takes top choir, band orchestra students throughout Oregon and Washington .”

Megan Brown, Hansina Martin, Joe young, Anjanette Morin, Nick Hamilton, Jonica Buck, Kathaleen Green, Mitchell Gasaway, Rodrigo Gaspar, Sarah Weaver, Giovanni Ramirez and Kelby Mills will be participating in choir.

Melissa Preston (tuba), Will Weinert (tuba), Taylor Reeves (clarinet), and Scott Schermerhorn (baritone) will be participating in band.

Band director Mike Preston said he and the students “work together to prepare individual parts.”

At Music in May, “They [the students] will spend the majority of their time in rehearsals. During the evenings they can go to dances, watch movies, and there is a talent show one night,” said Preston .

“Students are selected on interest and ability and the number of applicants,” said Klos.

Students fundraise for the event by asking donors, using drama scholarships and in the past have held car washes.

A wide variety of music of a “pretty high level” is performed. Besides rehearsing for the main event, the festival concert, there are also other activities such as an open mic jam session, a dance and movies.

The festival culminates in a performance on the afternoon of the 26 th .