After anticipating the results of his audition all summer, Holmes found out at the beginning of the school year he made the select group, which features singers from New England and Mid Atlantic states. He is one of 11 selections from Connecticut and, as a sophomore, he is one of the youngest members of the choir.
"He's just been a remarkable kid to work with," RHHS Choral Director Claire Burnett said. "When I auditioned him last year [as a freshman], he had a phenomenal, natural, beautiful voice."
Holmes is looking forward to performing with peers who share his musical enthusiasm.
"It's great to get out there," he said, "to have new experiences and to meet fellow choir members."
His family and Burnett will accompany him on the trip to the biannual conference, which begins Feb. 10 and culminates three days later with a concert at Church of the Holy Trinity featuring four honor choirs - children's, men's high school, women's high school and jazz. The men's choir is under the direction of Grammy Awarding winner Dr. Jerry Blackstone of the University of Michigan.
Burnett said it's rare for an underclassman to be selected. Many of the young men vying for a spot in the choir were upperclassmen more seasoned in auditioning for honor choirs. Holmes was chosen out of group of more than 100 auditioning for bass parts.
"I was part of the team of teachers that listened to all the audition tapes," Burnett said. "I just listened to the alto twos and there were 104. You can imagine the odds of getting into it."
Holmes was required to record scales and "My Country 'Tis of Thee" for his audition tape along with a piece of his choosing. He selected "Per la Gloria D'adorarvi" by Bononcini. Though he said auditioning live is more meaningful because you can form a connection, he said auditioning by tape is much easier because it's not a one-shot deal.
"You can fix problems," Homes said. "You can also take different parts of recordings that were good and mesh them with other parts from another recording you did that was good and make the final product."
Holmes continues a tradition of RHHS chorus members being selected to ACDA honor choirs.
"He's following a line," Burnett said. We're very proud that we've had one in most of the [performances] in the 30 years I've been here."