The Lanier Chamber Singers received an honor earlier this year when they were invited to perform at next year's American Choral Director's Association annual convention.

The choral group was the only community choir out of 11 southeastern states invited to perform in the community choral division, said director Michelle Roueche.

"And this is the second time that we've been the only community choir invited to perform," she said. "It is a really big honor. We competed against dozens of choirs in blind auditions."

The application process involves submitting a recording of your choir, she said.

A committee determines the best choirs to perform in different categories, including student choirs and professional choirs. The American Choral Director's Association is the membership body for all choral directors.

The convention will take place in March in Memphis, Tenn. The songs will debut here in Hall County in performances by the Lanier Chamber Singers on Feb. 26 and Feb. 28.

For more information, visit www.lanierchambersingers.org.

Roueche said she and the members of the group are excited about the opportunity, and it's something they can learn from as well.

"We'll get to hear all the other choirs who were invited to perform," she said. "They take the best college choirs and the best professional choirs, and that's what makes our selection so prestigious."