Gianna Douglas and Cameron Paternosh, members of the All-Eastern United States honor choir from Westfield High School, are pictured.

WESTFIELD – Two Westfield High School students were recently honored by being selected as part of the American Choral Directors’ Association Eastern Division Honor Choir in Providence, R.I.

Gianna Douglas, daughter of Valerie Douglas, and Cameron Paternosh, son of Brian and Maggie Paternosh, were chosen based on a highly competitive process that selected them from the best high school singers in the 11 northeast states. The students gathered in Providence and worked with conductor Felicia Barber of Yale University as they prepared a challenging concert program.

“I’m incredibly proud of these students,” said Kent Knappenberger, Westfield High School choral director. “If you’re going to throw your hat in a ring, the Northeastern United States is a pretty big ring! Cameron and Gianna represent the ninth and tenth Westfield students selected for this honor in the past 11 years. It’s always exciting to work with talent like this and see it be recognized.”

More than 1,800 attendees, session presenters, Honor Choir students and members of performing choirs came together for the festival.

“All-Eastern Choir was an incredible experience,” Paternosh said. “These singers are the real deal and to be one of those singers was so special. I couldn’t have asked for a better time.”

“Being in All-Eastern has by far been the best musical experience I’ve had to date,” Douglas said. “Getting to sing “Dedication”, a song celebrating black women and written by our conductor, brought me to tears. I was with my people-people who love to sing.”