Haines High School senior Alexandria Habra placed third in the state for her classical solo performance of “Queen of the Night” by Mozart at the ASAA State Solo & Ensemble Music Festival May 13.
Students from Haines and Sitka were the only representatives from Southeast to compete in the music festival where 40 total schools were represented at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Habra sang at her first Alaska music festival during a regional competition in Sitka earlier this year where she was awarded a “superior” rating for the same song from The Magic Flute. She also was asked to sing in a command performance in front of 600 people.
That honor took her to state where she sang the same song. She had to sing in German and was judged, in part, on how well she pronounced the language.
Habra said she sang in front of a judge who had a reputation for being “picky,” and it made her nervous.
“Before I found out the score, found out how well I did I was nervous,” Habra said. “But when I found out the score and found out I got third in the state it was really just an honor. It felt like I accomplished so much.”
Bass singer Dylan Palmieri also represented Haines. He sang “In These Holy Halls,” also from the Magic Flute.
Madeline Andriesen, also a senior, qualified but did not attend the Anchorage festival.