 Ethan Murphey and Mattison Sullivan will attend Governor's School for the Arts Summer 2016 Graves County High School juniors Ethan Murphey (left) and Mattison Sullivan have performed in some of the same music and drama circles over the years. They attended Graves County Central Elementary, Middle School, and High School at the same time. Both recently qualified to participate in the prestigious Governor's School for the Arts program this summer at Centre College in Danville.
Murphey will refine his skills as a vocalist. He will be one of nine basses in the Governor's School of the Arts Choir. He is the son of Ike and Amy Murphey. He joined the Graves County Middle School Choir in the seventh grade and has been selected to participate in All-District Choir every year since. Upon entering high school, Murphey was selected to participate in the Chamber Choir. The following year, he was presented the Outstanding Sophomore Award.
Murphey also participated in Honor Choir activities, such as singing with the University of Tennessee at Martin Chorus and at the music festival at Paducah Tilghman High School. At the latter event, he took lessons with the Acousticats, the University of Kentucky's a capella group. He was chosen as an alternate for GSA as a sophomore. Earlier this year, Murphey's audition led him to Kentucky's All-State Choir, where he spent three days in Louisville under the direction of various university professors, learning music for the all-state performance. Outside school, he helps lead singing in his church and has participated in the Paducah Symphony Youth Chorus.
Sullivan will work on further developing his knowledge of and skills in musical theater. He is the son of Matt and Stephanie Sullivan and lives with his family in Wingo. He first was involved in the arts through the Drama Club at Graves County Central Elementary School. Highlights included playing Peter Pan and travelling with the drama team to Branson, Mo., where they saw the Broadway performance of "Peter Pan" starring Cathy Rigby.
Sullivan also has participated in several musicals with the Purchase Players community theater group in Mayfield, ranging from Mowgli in "The Jungle Book" to the Cat-in-the Hat in "Seussical, the Musical." At Graves High, he has performed in the Chamber Choir and in musical theater. His most recent role was that of Professor Henry Higgins in "My Fair Lady." Sullivan plans to pursue a career in the performing arts. He has not yet selected a university to attend, but plans to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater. |
