Students from all three Westerville high schools participated in the District 15 Solo and Ensemble Event held at Reynoldsburg High School on Saturday, January 21. Many earned Superior and Excellent ratings. Each year, the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) sponsors Solo and Ensemble adjudicated events for vocal and instrumental music students from each district in Ohio to perform for a professional adjudicator and to receive a rating and certificate. High School Solo and Ensemble participants must choose their solo from a list, which is published by OMEA.
From Westerville South High School, Superior ratings were earned by band members Sam Johnston; Saxophone Quartet Evelyn Seitz, Kaitlyn Grella, Mackenzie Arens and Eddie Jewell;
Troy Taylor; Jenna Johnston; Luke Spiller; Audrey Morelock; Trombone Trio Jason Smith, Joseph Tickel, and Lara Detrick; Daemon Gordon; Lara Detrick; Jack Gagnon; Jennifer Lann; Kaitlyn Grella; Natalie Reichert; Nathan Ware; Clarinet Trio Abby Messina, Rachel Slaybaugh, and Brian Courts; and Clarinet Trio 2 Cassie Cotter, Sydney Laluzerne, and Jillian Dosky. Excellent ratings were received by South band members Jack McLean; South Horn Trio Nathan Ware, Emily Hayman, and Megan Gregory; Kaleigh Rudge; Rebekah Whittaker; Katelyn Gluck; Jacob Meyst; Chloe Leonard; Abigail Ingersoll; and Josh Coffey.
South choir members who earned Superior ratings were Jackson Shewmake and the Men’s Vocal Ensemble: Josiah Holloway, Caleb Jingo, Evan Kret, Hunter McCune, Oliver Miller, Oliver Runyon, Jackson Shewmake and Michael Wade. Choir member Alex Howlett received an Excellent rating.
A number of students from the Westerville South High School orchestra earned Superior ratings. They are Grace Denbow; Nate Kinser; Audrey Morelock; Joseph Simms; Rachel Slaybaugh; Khanh Vu; Kyra Welch; and South String Quartet members Anna McLean, Emma Murphy, Kyra Welch, and Michael Hallman. South’s Ozichi Fah received an excellent ranking, as did Michael Hallman and Xing Wu.
Musicians from the Westerville North High School band who earned Superior Ratings were Ian Claggett; Aaron Crum; Saxophone Quartet Cassady Doel, Zach Ryan, Emily Stowers, and Trevor Vestal; Anna Nufer; Jacob Ryan; Zach Ryan; and Elise Vargo. Jacob Claggett received an Excellent rating.
Superior ratings for Westerville North choir members were earned by Quinn Gray, Nina Greer, the Notables Chamber Ensemble and the Symphonic Women’s Ensemble. Hannah Gorsuch and Elise Vargo received Excellent ratings.
North orchestra members earning Superior ratings were String Trio Quinn Gray, David Austin, and Harrison Passerello; Morgan Page; and Harrison Passerello. Excellent ratings were received by Eva Bernhardt; Violin Duet Tsunami Brisco and Rayven Day; Cassady Doel; Coriell Hughes; and String Trio Jeff Steele, Coriell Hughes, and Riley Weaver.
Westerville Central High School band members earning Superior ratings were Symphonic Clarinet Trio Meg Thomas, Caroline Cable, and Haley Hudson; Helena Savolaine; Ben Middleton; and Amber Hockstok. Excellent ratings were received by Amber Hockstok; Symphonic Sax Trio Madison Owsiany, Lillian Craig, and Asaisha Cook; Concert Sax Trio Jacob Miller, Izzy Phillips, and Max Davis; Kevin Norby; Helena Savolaine; Mitchell Louden; Reid Robichaud; Jillian Hickok; and Kayla Carter.
Westerville Central Orchestra members Helena Savolaine and Amber Hockstock received Excellent ratings.
Bree Phillips and Emma Pierce, from Westerville Central’s choir, earned Superior ratings. Choir members Taylor Cunningham and Alexis Gonzalez received Excellent ratings.