Liberty Students Compete In State Solo & Ensemble

Band and choir students compete in annual competitions

by Paige Bostic, Co-Editor-In-Chief and Grayce Page, Reporter

On Saturday, March 5, members of the Liberty choirs and band convened to participate in the district Solo and Ensemble Festival. The event provides an opportunity for musically inclined students to compete for placements and qualifications for the upcoming state Solo and Ensemble Festival this month on April 30.

The Liberty choirs and band participated in 20 events, eight of which resulted in individual or group advancement to state. State Solo and Ensemble will be held this month, taking place at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

The band found great success at the competition, accumulating a total of nine high ratings of exemplary and outstanding. Of the Concert, Treble Select, and Chamber choirs, nine members received medals for their solo performances, and 12 received medals for their ensemble performances, with those winning gold advancing to state.

State competitions were on April 30 at Mizzou in Columbia. Band students brought home a silver medal and a bronze medal, and choir students brought home four gold medals. and two silver medals. Below are rankings for competing students at the district event, with asterisks (*) denoting later state medalists.

Choir

(Advanced to State) Solo Grace Edney (10)*, Morgan Feinstein (11)*, Liam Ovares (12)*, Cassie Tarrant (12)*, Anna Wright (11)* Ensemble Treble Ensemble with Bee Boyer (12)*, Grace Edney (10)*, Morgan Feinstein (11)*, Nora Foeller (11)*, Avery Schlattman (12)*, Cassie Tarrant (12)* and Anna Wright (10)*

Band

(Advanced to State)

Solo Jaden Zelidon (12)* Ensemble Leilani Green (10)*, Donald Jurgensmeyer (12)*, Shane Wolz (11)* and Benjamin Young (11)*

Kent Masten (12) – Piano Solo, Kyler Stevenson (12) – Trumpet Solo, Emma Thomas (11) – Piano Solo, Shane Wolz (11) – Tenor Saxophone Solo, Ben Young (11) – Alto Saxophone Solo Ensemble Trumpet Quartet – Liam Ovares (12), Kyler Stevenson (12), Kaitlyn Benesek (11) and Amelia Huebbe (11)

Solo Bee Boyer (12) Connor Higlen (10) Kennedy LeMaster (10)

Solo Brandt Cleppe (9) Ensemble Mixed Ensemble with Bee Boyer (12), Brandt Cleppe (9), Morgan Feinstein (11), Liam Ovares (12), and Anthony Rey (10) Mixed Ensemble with Grace Edney (10), Nora Foeller (11), Connor Higlen (10), Avery Schlattman (12), Cassie Tarrant (12), Anna Wright (11), Shane Wolz (11) and Aidan Yowell (12)

photo provided by C. Datz Choir students (from left to right) Bee Boyer, Morgan Feinstein, Nora Foeller, teacher Mr. Datz, Liam Ovares, Grace Edney, Anna Wright, Avery Schlattman and Cassie Tarrant pose at Mizzou.