By Emilie Gilbert
Herald Intern
Seminole High School’s Noles Choir, directed by Samantha Torres Baker, was selected as the 2026 “Choir of Distinction” from Seminole County Public Schools by the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park.
The choir is one of two selected from Orange and Seminole Counties by the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, which has occurred annually since the Choir of Distinction Competition began in 2023.
“I could not be more pleased with the talent and potential of these two directors and their choirs,” Bach artistic director and conductor Dr. John V. Sinclair said.
The Noles Choir won in a close competition this year, and selecting a winner was tough, Sinclair said.
“There's so much wonderful singing happening in both counties,” Sinclair said. “The final decision was simply that we thought this group sang better than the other one.”
The other Seminole County Public Schools finalist was Lake Brantley High School, directed by Ezra Prather.
To compete, the participating choirs selected two choral works, recorded their performance and submitted it to be assessed by a panel of judges made up of college choral professors. Finalists were selected and then performed live.
Baker is in her first year of teaching as the choir director at Seminole High School. On March 6, she was surprised by the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, which presented the “Choir of Distinction” award to her during one of her classes.
Baker is a graduate of the Rollins College music program and previously worked with Sinclair.
“It felt like such a huge moment for me whenever they came and surprised me because it felt like that's a full circle moment,” Baker said. “The person that presented this award to me has taught me the most about how to be in the position that I'm in.”
The competition winners received more than just the title of “Choir of Distinction.” The choirs get to partake in a nine-month program of choral instruction and have the chance to perform with the Bach Festival Choir and orchestra at the Knowles Memorial Chapel on the Rollins College campus.
Ja’Neriah DeBose is a senior at Seminole High School and president of the school’s chorus.
“It's really cool because I would never think that I would be able to have that opportunity,” DeBose said. “It's like, I'm ending senior year with a bang and I'm thankful for it.”
