WILLIAMSTOWN, West Virginia (WTAP) — Williamstown Junior Payton Woodard and Senior Zoe Daugherty were among the players selected for the West Virginia All State Orchestra.

They told me the audition was Saturday, January 8th in Bridgeport. They learned of their acceptance a few days later.

For Woodard, this will be his first time at All State.

She says she auditioned practically last year, but there was no performance due to the pandemic.

Williamstown String Orchestra director Ashley Clark says All State is a great opportunity for top student-musicians from across the state to meet and play together.

For Woodard, she’s very excited to learn from “great people and great players.”

With Daugherty in his senior year, his return to the All State Orchestra will be one of his last performances before graduation.

“I’m excited about college and what’s beyond it, but I don’t want to leave my high school orchestra,” Daugherty says.

She says she is looking forward to the professional environment and performing in such a big venue.

She hopes this experience is just a glimpse of her future.

“In my wildest dreams, I would score a movie,” Daugherty says.

All State is the first weekend in March at the Civic Center in Charleston. They will participate in two days of rehearsal and a performance on Saturday.

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