For the second year in a row, the Meridian High School Choir brought home the overall first place trophy for a music festival. Last year, it was in Atlanta, and this year the choir swept every category of the Dollywood Music Festival, winning the overall, men's choir, women's choir and show choir competitions.

"Superior is the best rating you can get and that's what I always want my kids to do, is their best," said Penny McLemore, director of choral activities. "Whether they get a superior or not, if they know they've done their best that's what I want from them. I want them to learn more about music and take good and bad, that's what we want them to do."

The kids say they enjoyed the trip, meeting new people, being with each other and riding the rides at Dollywood, of course, was just a bonus. For the seniors though, it was their final choir trip, which does leave a bit of sadness.

"I take it as a learning experience and a growing experience as a choir," said senior Anna Edwards. "I think it brought us closer together and we learned a lot, so it was great."

"As a teacher, it's very rewarding to know that they've done the best they can do, and it just makes me feel good," McLemore said.

When Meridian was announced as the winner over the other seven schools from states as far away as New Jersey, the students were really pumped.

"It was so exciting," said Edwards. "We were all jumping up and down; we could barely contain ourselves. But it was a lot of fun."

It's during the competitions that the choir members say they have the most fun, and that's also when they see a different side of Mrs. Mac, as they call their leader.

"She kind of gets crazy," said senior Micah Huffman. "She starts jumping up and down. I get into music, too, so I can't say much either. But just meeting new people when you come into choir and learning new stuff about music."

On the way back to Meridian, the choir made a stop at Turner Field and performed the National Anthem before the Atlanta Braves' Sunday baseball game.