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After recently being resurrected, the Franklin County High School choir shined in a state-level competition last week but was edged out of a chance to be the opening act for the rock band Foreigner.

Franklin County was in a three-way internet-voting competition with Warren County High School and Centennial High School in the city of Franklin.

Viewers watched videos of the individual choirs and voted accordingly for the one they thought should get the chance to share the stage with the legendary band that was a leader in the rock music charts in the early 1980s.

Voting closed on April 23 with Warren County beating Franklin County by 158 votes — 2,367 to 2,209 — while Centennial finished third in the competition.

If victorious, Franklin County would have been able to open for Foreigner on July 11 at the Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville through the contest sponsored by the radio station 105.9 The Rock.

Choral/Theatre Director Emily Orris said that, despite coming up slightly short in the competition, she is thrilled that her students had the chance to compete. She added that their performance speaks very highly of Franklin County, but more community support could have made the difference between winning and finishing in second place.

“Just getting to be in the contest was such a great opportunity, not only the program but for the community,” she said. “I believe, if ever in a similar competition or situation like this one, really striving to get the whole community and surrounding communities involved is paramount because having that support is really the key to making any program successful.

“We definitely had a lot of support, but trying to reach as many people in the community as possible would be the biggest thing to strive for.”

Orris took over the choir’s helm in 2018 after a nearly 10-year hiatus and has rebuilt the musical program.

She said she’s pleased with how far her boys and girls choirs have evolved since the program was resurrected.

“It’s the most incredible thing,” she said, referring to how the choir has gone from an initial regrouping four and a half years ago to being selected by a Nashville radio station among three schools in the state to vie for a chance to open for a major international musical act.

“This is huge, very huge,” she said, referring to the opportunity

Orris said she recently received a call from 105.9 The Rock, and an employee there informed her that Franklin County’s choir has had a lot of exposure on social media, indicating that it is one of the best ones in the state.

She said that with the experience gained, the choir will strive to do better in the next showcasing opportunity that unfolds.

The Franklin County Singers show choir includes Hilary Ashby, Karina Castillo, Angelina Dominguez-Smith, Mackenzie Geer, Zoey Smith, Olivia Lamb, Wayne Medley, Madeline Lewis, Zoey Miller, Bailey Odell, Dylan Owens, Brianna Pence, Clinton Sanson, Shelby Simmons, Marlie Stamey and Ivy Williams.

The Concert Choir members are Addison Amacher, Cieanna Disney, Shayla Kyle-Orta, Samantha Latham, Allie Loos, Michael McPheron, Dylan Owens, Brianna Pence, Gabrielle Pope, Logan Redmon, Eleanor Roberts, Shelby Simmons, Adriana Stuller, Nicholas Torres, Alyssa Watkins, Gracie Wilder and Honoka Yamaguchi.