WESTFIELD — For the first time in at least 50 years, a Westfield Academy and Central School student has been chosen for the All Eastern High School Choir, which is held by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).

Senior Alaina Cockram was honored on Tuesday with a musical send-off from her choir peers at WACS before she leaves this morning for Atlantic City, where she will spend three grueling days rehearsing with dozens of other students from across the United States for the All Eastern High School Choir concert on Saturday.

The All Eastern High School Choir is a group of people from the northeastern part of the United States. These participants auditioned last spring and were chosen for the All State competitions in their individual states. They ended up getting the highest scores out of all of those in their state, and moved on to the All Eastern High School Choir. Cockram scored a 100 on Level 6, which is the highest level one can perform at.

“It’s awesome. I’m really excited to go,” Cockram said.

Today, the students will be registered, before having a “preliminary rehearsal,” where singers have to sing through all of the music. On Thursday and Friday, there will be all-day rehearsals. The concert will be held Saturday morning.

The choir members have to sing five songs at their concert, which could be tough after rehearsing for what can be 10-hour days.

“You have to power through,” Cockram explained. “Don’t stay up late, drink a lot of water, [and] don’t talk too much when you’re not singing.”

Choir teacher Kurt Knappenberger praised the NAfME, stressing the importance of recognizing students like Cockram for their musical talents.

“It’s nice that there’s a system of recognition for talented kids, and I think it’s great. Elena is very deserving, and she’ll represent what we do in music and our school very well, and our town. She’s going to have a great time,” Knappenberger said.

Cockram has been invested in music for a majority of her life, with her first musical being in the third grade. After high school, she hopes to attend Florida Southern College for music performance.