On May 1, the campus of the University of Missouri (Mizzou) resonated with the sounds of Missouri’s finest young musicians, including an elite delegation of our performing arts students. Competing at the MSHSAA State Solo and Small Ensemble Contest, our instrumentalists, vocalists, and orchestra members delivered a series of masterful performances, returning home with an impressive collection of Gold, Silver, and Bronze ratings.
The MSHSAA State contest is the pinnacle of the competitive season, requiring students to first earn a top rating at the district level before qualifying for this prestigious stage.
The Gold Standard
Our Gold rating recipients represented the highest level of musical achievement, demonstrating technical precision and exceptional artistry:
Solos: Caleb Artz (Tuba), Elliot Campbell (Marimba), Sam Haynes (Snare), Claire Kluczynski (Clarinet), Kara Wilson (Clarinet), Ayeika Castro (Vocal), and Kara Nolte (Vocal).
Dual-Gold Honors: Calvin Gray achieved the rare feat of earning two Gold ratings for both his Piano and Snare solos.
Ensembles:
Clarinet Trio: Joi Jackson, Claire Kluczynski, Kara Wilson
SSA Trio: Kara Nolte, Kait Simms, Annabelle Layton
SSA Sextet: Ayeika Castro, Marissa Uptain, Ava Craig, Lillian McCaul, Audrina Miller, Hailey Sullivan
Exceptional Performances
Our students also earned high honors in the Silver and Bronze categories, showcasing the incredible depth and versatility of the music department:
Silver Ratings
Orchestra: Lydia Artz, Emily Lanfer, Alyssa Walling, and Elizabeth Snarzyk (String Quartet)
Band/Choir Solos: Aaron Einfeldt (Marimba), Lydia Utz (Tenor Sax), Alayna Bonck, Ian Hemmann, Elliott Holt, Lillian McCaul, and Kait Simms.
Vocal Ensemble: The SSAA Double Quartet (Alayna Bonck, Katie McCoy, Haylee Bennick, Sophia Hogan, Kiersten Barton, Kara Nolte, Annabelle Layton, and Kait Simms).
Bronze Ratings
Solos: Carter Wolf (Trumpet) and Nastasia Smithley (Vocal).
The success at Mizzou marks another milestone for the performing arts program, highlighting a commitment to excellence that continues to hit all the right notes. Congratulations to all our state competitors!