Perhaps as Bears should, some Billingsley students have voices as sweet as honey.

Two Billingsley choral groups won first place in their respective classifications at the Music in the Parks Festival in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. over the weekend.

Billingsley’s mixed choir and women’s choir both brought home first-place awards.

“They did beautifully, and they felt like that had a good performance themselves,” said Nora McGalliard, choir director. “That’s all anybody can do.”

The mixed choir includes Becca Carroll, Stephanie Carroll, Na’Sha DeRamus, Kelsey Galloway, Mikayli Glasscock, Keyjuan Goodson, Kristian Goodson, Kristy Gorenflo, Cherish Liveoak, Chelsea Morris, Ryan Nelson, Rose Pace, Chavonta Parker, Chandler Pittman, Alexus Shepherd, Riley Tindol, Jennifer Walker and Je-Na Williams.

The women’s choir is composed of the 14 female members of the mixed choir. All choir members range from eighth grade to 11th grade.

The mixed choir performed “Benedictus” by Brian Lewis and “Jubilate Deo” by Mary Lynn Lightfoot. The women’s choir performed “At Twilight” by Audrey Snyder and “Lo Yissa Goy” by Andy Beck.

“They’re good learning pieces,” McGalliard said. “They’re very high quality choral literature, and I also pick pieces that show good contrast. We’ll have one quiet piece and then one that’s more lively.”

McGalliard said about 20 groups from across the country competed at the event, from choral groups to band and orchestra groups.

The choirs have practiced together since the beginning of the academic year, McGalliard said. The mixed choir also competed in the Alabama National Fair in October 2011, where they were named one of the top six choirs in attendance, and the Alabama Vocal Association District Competition in Tallassee.