More than 600 students will be singing at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in a free concert Saturday afternoon that will be presented by the East Tennessee Vocal Association (ETVA) All-East Chorus.

Greeneville High School Choral Director Kathryn E. May said this morning that 470 high school singers arrived in Greeneville on Thursday to begin rehearsing, and 150 middle-school singers will be arriving here today.

The best singers from many of East Tennessee's high schools and middle schools will present a free concert for the public at 2 p.m. this Saturday at the NPAC.

The student singers began rehearsing Thursday evening in various choral groups and at a number of locations here.

The rehearsals resumed at 9 a.m. this morning and will continue for much of today. The rehearsals are being held at First Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Greeneville High School and the NPAC.

GHS Choral Director May has said, "We are very grateful to the Greeneville City School System, the GHS Chorus Boosters, the local churches, the area hotels and restaurants, and to [NPAC Executive Director] Darrell Bryan and the NPAC staff for working with us to bring this event to fruition."

She said the influx of students has filled local motels and inns here, and will provide a boost for Greeneville's restaurants.

All vocal students who participate in the All-East competition won the honor of doing so after spending several weeks in special rehearsals, and passing rigorous auditions and screenings.

The hundreds of young vocalists have been divided into five choirs:

* middle school (mixed voices);

* ninth-grade (mixed voices);

* 10th, 11th and 12th graders (women);

* 10th, 11th and 12th graders (men);

* 10th, 11th and 12th graders (mixed voices).

All-East vocal students with exceptionally high scores will advance to the All-State event that will be held in April 2010 in Nashville's War Memorial Auditorium.

The first time Greeneveville High school hosted this event was in 2006.

Coaching and judging the young singers are a group of highly-respected clinicians. They include:

* Dr. Sonya Sepulvea, director of choral activities at Brewton Parker College in Mount Vernon, Ga.;

* Dr. William Caldwell, adjunct professor of music at Belmont University in Nashville;

* Joseph Martin, director of sacred publications at Shawnee Press in Nashville;

* Laura Ritter, director of choral activities at Walters State Community College; and

* Dr. Tim Hendrickson, director of choral activities at Delta College in University Center, Mich.