Austin students perform in Lakeville festival

More than 200 Austin High School music students recently traveled to Lakeville South High School for the annual Solo/Ensemble Music Festival. Throughout the course of the day, students involved in choir, orchestra and band gave more than 250 different performances, including a wide variety of solos, duets, trios and quartets.

On the choir side, a senior SSA sextet received a perfect score and a Best in Site award. Members of this ensemble were Bailey Mueller, Trista Akkerman, Anna Bachmeier, Claire Lunning, Tabitha Nelson, and Heidi Johnson. Choral solos and ensembles were prepared under the direction of Mr. Brian Johnson.

For orchestra, junior cellist Abby Sencio received a Best in Site award. A Best In Site award is given by a judge to the most exemplary performance of the day. Each judge typically hears 35 to 40 performances per festival. Orchestra entries were prepared under the direction of Mr. Gene Schott.

Several band students brought their A-game, including perfect scores for junior tenor sax player Ethan Morey and sophomore alto-sax player Isaac Wollersheim. Sophomore Arn Huizinga received a Best in Site award for his trombone solo, and the 23 members of Jazz One also brought home a Best in Site award for the second consecutive year. The band events were prepared under the direction of Mr. Bradley Mariska.

All performances are given a rating of Fair, Good, Excellent, or Superior, based on a 40-point scale.

AHS participants

More than 90 percent of the Austin entries received a Superior or Excellent ratings:

Choral Superior: Lea Wicht, Brooke Weinmann, Ciara Engels, Bailey Mueller, Trista Akkerman, Anna Bachmeier, Claire Lunning, Tabitha Nelson, Heidi Johnson, Arn Huizinga, Noelan Riley, Jake Reinartz,  Kendall Hull, Ashley Harrington, Matt Anderson, Grace Thoen, Madeline Strobel, Whitney Loverink, Jacob Burkhart, Max Deyo, Erik Anderson, Maddie Kinney, Isaac Schumacher, Katie Maxa, Berghyn Hull,  Valentina Truong-Ferreira, Matt Knoll, Trent Brown, Betsy Ettinger, Kelsey Oldenkamp, Sydney Johnson, Cenneidigh Peters, Mary Sullivan, Tara Watkins, Madison Hasley, Andrew Allas, and an SSA Ensemble including Bailey Mueller, Trista Akkerman, Anna Bachmeier, Claire Lunning, Tabitha Nelson, Heidi Johnson (Perfect Score and Best in Site).

Choral Excellent: Mitzi Medina, Jackie Bruen, Tysha Allen, Lily Goldberg, Lia Mahora, Kylie Larson, Haley Lenway, Amara DePaul, Abi Munoz, Alisa Hughes, MacKenzee Fabian, Abby Deyo, Veronica Bravo, Keely Zynda, Mer Gach, Jora Bothun, Erin Anderson, Kelsey Ross, Vanessa Lynn,  Alexis Kruse, John Sengsouriya, Caleb Rickard, Kennedy Novy, Rosa Palma, Lizette Salazar, Allison Braaten, Andrea Ramirez-Hernandez, Cole Navoa, Katlynn Schmick, Chanda Ounkong, Jackie Jackson, Paul Mueller, Maddie Brown, Grace Shupe, Kassie Fate, and Gage Johnson.

Band Superior: Sam Borgerson, Tristan Lund, Tim Farrell, Corbin Munger, Cody Berglund, Hunter Lewis, Isaac Tischer, Valentina Truong-Ferriera, Josh Brehmer, Kelsey Oldenkamp, Chrissy Nelson, Alex Stockschlaeder, Caylee Meier, Amber Hansen, Caitlin Gordon, Olivia Leuer, Nathan Connor, Peter Connor, Isaac Schumacher, Brooke Pedersen, Zeke Peters, Jamie Bakke, Ethan Miller, Katie Maxa, Max Reynen, Mara Overby, Madison Overby, Chloe Summerfield, Brooke Pazurek, Hannah Alberts, Kelsey Feuerhak, Kristina Thorson, Miranda Bergemann, Elijah Hirst, Quin Brunner, Shaun Case, Abi Collins, Matt Neumann, Nathan Drees, Aleesha Anderson, Ian Bearden, Tabitha Nelson, Katey Tischer, James Murphy, Pat Hagan, Trent Brown, Todd Weaver, Abby Sencio, Kyra Olson, Jacob Burkhart, Arn Huizinga (Best in Site Award), Ethan Morey (Perfect Score), Isaac Wollersheim (Perfect Score), and the 22 members of Jazz One (Best in Site).

Band Excellent: Nathan Kestner, Jamie Bakke, Megan Maxa, Cenneidigh Peters, Katelyn Hillson, Katelyn Hillson, Bailee Brooks, Crystal Bowlin, Jose Phomsoukha, Jeremiah Finley-Cook, Levi Dah, Zach Farrand, Coy Stark, Kory Potach, Courtney McIntosh, Olivia Bernand, Ochain Okey,  Josh Bollum,  Grady Rambadt, Alex Stockschlaeder, Cassie Gordon, Mikayla Bruner, Hannah Burkhart, Kassie Fate, Matt Anderson, TJ Studley, Nathan Drees,  Jake Reinartz, Jesus Gallegos, Matt Knoll, Jonah Weis, Tim Farrell, Sam Bennett, Francisco Morales, Brooklyn Deters, Clara Munger, Carlene O’Connor, Megan Fleiner, Heidi Johnson, Kendall Hull, Kristine Schechinger, Brooklyn Brandt, Bethany Rowbal, Miranda Bergemann, Chrissy Nelson, Courtney Kusick, Hugh Olson, Nora Curtis, Athena Hansen, Shannon Rowbal, Abby Schammel, Jora Bothun, Kyra Olson, Jessica White, Abby Deyo, Karly Novy, Mattie Hackensmith, Jordan Harmon, Max Deyo, Josh Irvin, Ashley Harrington, Brad Gerlach, and the 25 members of Packer Jazz.

Orchestra Superior: Emma Andersen, Lucas Goodew, Sydney Johnson, Katie Maxa, Anna Bachmeier, Abby Sencio (Best in Site), Valentina Truong Ferriera, Kevin Riskedahl, Maggie Trom, and Natalie Perry.

Orchestra Excellent: Michael Carroll, Tae Weber, Elizabeth Christenson, Emma Gordon, Madison Hasley, Nya Yuok, Laici Heil, Araiha Shropshire, Emily Jones, Madelyn Brown, Jack Oldenkamp, Sophia Thoen, Ben Walker, Matt Retterath, Nate Kestner, Sydney Hastings, Justice Tabor, Brianna Fritz, Shane Johannsen, Kelly Paredes, Josh Snee, Katelyn Greibrok, Phillip Rodriguez, Veronica Bravo, Emily Martin, Kari Lynn Finley-Cook, Dillon Underdahl, Tannis Smith, and the four members of the Tschaik Quartet: Valentina Truong Ferriera, Jennifer Bogle, Ben Walker, and Abby Sencio.