The Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association’s District 16 put on a Junior High Middle School Solo and Ensemble Festival on Dec. 6. District 16 includes schools from Oakland and Livingston Counties.
The newly renovated Scripps Middle School was the site for this event. The festival involved over 1,800 students in seventh, eighth and ninth grades.
Each group involving one to six musicians are evaluated by a professional on their instrument and given a rating from a First Division down to a Fifth Division rating.
The ensembles are judged on tone quality, intonation, rhythm, technique and how they interpret the music using the symbols and notation that the composer made available.
Those individuals receiving a First Division Medal were Caitlin Nash, Erin Motley (3), Yvette Babich (3), Allison Diven (2), Leah Grasl (2), Matt Modlin, Carlee Schepeler, Samantha Truax, Rob Nowicki, Adam Fasbinder (2), Eric Ramekers, David Beck, Susan Lawless, Libby Fitz-Gerald, Lydia Stuef, Jeremy Peshl, Emily Richters, Brittany Wright, Amanda Gramlich, Alyssa Schwarcz, Kristine Lagodna, Kevin Gurski, Dan Turchyn, Stephanie Popilek and Laura Moll.
Participants who were awarded at Second Division Medal were John Paulson, Alex Wilmont, Christopher Gottschalk, Ben Crothers, Ryan Schoenick, Kelsey Lepper, Kristin Sauro, Brennan D’Ammunzio, Jeremy Andridge, Caitlin Clemence, Lydia Stuef, Kendra Phillips, Valerie Godoshian, Tyler Benson, Joe Werschler and Yushi Yanagita.
The band director at Waldon Middle School is Michael Edwards.