Last weekend, the choral and instrumental jazz ensembles from Marion High School and McCulloch Junior High took home several top awards from ISSMA’s annual district jazz competition. 

At the Indiana State School Music Association’s district jazz competition on March 3 and 4 at Kokomo High School, Marion High School had four ensembles competing, and McCulloch Junior High School had two ensembles competing. Here’s a look at the awards earned, and the students involved: 

MHS Jazz 1 instrumental ensemble

This ensemble competed on Saturday and earned a Gold with Distinction, the top award given. For the first time in many years, the ensemble competed in Group 1 (the most difficult division). In addition to earning the top award for the overall performance, several students also earned Outstanding Solo recognition: 

•    Nathaniel Aguila, junior, piano, Outstanding Solo

•    Andrew Hancock, sophomore, alto saxophone, Outstanding Solo

•    Aiden Johnson, junior, tenor saxophone, Outstanding Solo

•    Damien Martin, sophomore, baritone saxophone, Outstanding Solo

•    Other members of this group are seniors Kalique Malone, Adolfo Marin, Johnathan Peters, and John Taylor; juniors Kaydence Chambers, Noah Crisp, Elijah Maki, Aydan Roedl, and Rylan Smithley; sophomores Maddox Bento, Easton Emery, David Graham, Michelle Rasor, Jacen Rose, Emily Smith, and Kyliegh Yeakle; and freshmen Andersson Guevara and Justin Peters

MHS Jazz 2 instrumental ensemble

This ensemble competed on Saturday and earned a Gold. 

•    Members of this group are senior Mario Jimenez, and freshmen Emoshaw Brown, Shaeli Castaneda, Damien Evans, Andersson Guevara, Chayim Hofmann, Jamari Johnson, Jayden Johnson, Tim Jones, Elijah McCray, Landen Shanks, and Manuel Trejo

MHS 26th Street Innovations show choir

This ensemble competed on Saturday and earned a Gold with Distinction. 

•    Members of this group are seniors Libby Miller and Shaylee Vermilion; juniors Caroline Russell and Kendal Vetor; sophomore Abigail Ndow; and freshman Zoey Wayman. 

MHS jazz choir

This ensemble competed on Saturday and earned a Gold. 

•    Noah Gilreath, sophomore, Outstanding Solo

•    Other members of this group are seniors Danika Ayers, Emily Fisher, Chloe Hawkins, and Rai Teegarden Stanley; juniors Henry Callender, Alandra King, and John Wells; sophomores Julia Detamore, Caleb Huff, Ciera Huston, and Merideth Santee; and freshmen Jasmine Caldwell, Shaun Caldwell, Mya Mezick, and Ray'Shauna Smith.

MJH jazz band

This ensemble competed on Friday and earned a Gold with Distinction. In addition to earning the top award for the overall performance, one student also earned Outstanding Solo recognition: 

•    Alexa Ortiz-Juarez, eighth grade, Outstanding Solo

•    Other members of the group are eighth-graders Madelynn Boogar, Eleanor Bruehler, Ashton Circle, Keagan Couchman, Nick Easter, Ethan Fain, Micah Hawkins, Gavin Johnson, Maizey Kuch, Xavier Lavert, Axel Ortiz Juarez, Jethe Paduga, Luke Payne, Colin Royse, Isaiah Rumple, Arabella Stanley, and Lincoln Steenbergh; and seventh-graders Audrey Alsup, Liam Carpenter, Elaina Dunham, Eziriah Gibbs, Aiden Gilreath, Jace Johnson, Nakul Nagesh, Nam Nguyen, Dee Shiraef, Hannah Smith, and Parker Stiles

MJH jazz choir

This ensemble competed on Saturday and earned a Gold with Distinction. In addition to earning the top award for the overall performance, one student also earned Outstanding Solo recognition: 

•    Hannah Huff, seventh grade, Outstanding Solo 

•    Other members of the group are eighth-graders Madelynn Boogar, Selah Craig, Aliya Cruz, Alaina Emert, Tristen Hall, Micah Hawkins, Mary Herrington, Shianna Johnson, Lilly Koegel, Xavier Lavert, Graysen Shanks, Arabella Stanley, and Mya Washington; and seventh-graders Audrey Alsup, Aden Balderas, Khloe DeLuna, Angeleah Garcia, Lucy Jenkins, Kate Nguyen, Colin Royse, Ja’Mirra Smith, and Parker Stiles.

 

Original source can be found here.