The preparations for the Regional music contest came to an abrupt halt for the Cardinalaires and choir Sunday evening the week before the event. Music teacher Ellen Kerr was out of state due to a family emergency the week before Regionals, leaving no accompanist to help the boys and girls groups. This had some of the members upset. Sophomore Makenna Beesley said she had hoped to be a four-year letterwinner, and she thought she wouldn’t be able to letter without attending the competition, although the requirements were later changed.

“I literally cried, and it was awful,” Beesley said.

Senior Hanah Jones had a similar reaction to Beesley’s when she received the news.

“I was upset at first because I was looking forward to it,” Jones said.

Piano teacher Karen Lange offered to take any soloists who still wanted to go to Regionals. Beesley and Jones, both Cardinalaires, accepted her offer.

“I wasn’t to bothered about (the groups not attending); the groups still needed improving,” Jones said.

The two soloists both received a I rating, the best you can get, on their solos and will be going to State music at Southeast of Saline High School on April 23.