Recently, the choral and instrumental jazz ensembles from Marion High School and McCulloch Junior High took home several awards from ISSMA’s annual district jazz competition, and five students earned Outstanding Solo awards.
At the Indiana State School Music Association’s district jazz competitions on March 1 and 2, 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:
Marion High School:
Jazz 1 instrumental ensemble
This ensemble competed on March 1 at Kokomo High School and earned a Gold rating in Group I (the most difficult division). In addition, two students also earned Outstanding Solo recognition:
- Andrew Hancock, junior, Outstanding Solo, alto saxophone
- Aiden Johnson, senior, Outstanding Solo, tenor saxophone
- Other members of this group are Nathaniel Agulia, Kaydence Chambers, Noah Crisp, Elijah Maki, and Rylan Smithley, seniors; Easton Emery, David Graham, Caleb Huff, Damien Martin, Jacen Rose, and Kyliegh Yeakle, juniors; Andersson Guevara, Justin Peters, and Manuel Trejo, sophomores; Micah Hawkins, Axel Ortiz, and Lincoln Steenbergh, freshman
Jazz 2 instrumental ensemble
This ensemble competed on March 2 at Kokomo High School and earned a Silver in Group III.
- Members of this group are Trenton Southern, senior; Emoshaw Brown, Shaeli Castaneda, Damien Evans, Chayim Hofmann, Jamari Johnson, Jayden Johnson, Tim Jones, Elijah McCray, Lucas Payne, sophomores; Ashton Circle, Nicholas Easter, Ethan Fain, Gavin Johnson, Alexa Ortiz, Jethe Paduga, Colin Royse, Landen Shanks, Arabella Stanley, freshmen
Innovations show choir
This ensemble competed on March 2 at Western High School and earned a Silver in Group III.
- Members of this group are Aliya Cruz, Gabe Fisher, Kevin Hernandez, Mary Herrington, Jayda Kelly, Lilly Koegel, Wyatt Mangus, and Graysen Shanks, freshmen; Jazleen Roby and Zoey Wayman, sophomores; Kryuna Shumock, junior.
Jazz choir
This ensemble competed on March 2 at Western High School and earned a Silver in Group III.
Members of this group are Aldin Balderas, Katrina Castator, Selah Craig, Lucy Jenkins, Graysen Shanks, and Nick Smith, freshmen; Brooklynn Deaton and Layla Ensor, sophomores; Jocelyn Menning and Lilli Williams, seniors.
McCulloch Junior High School
Jazz band
This ensemble competed on March 1 at Kokomo High School and earned a Gold. In addition, two students also earned Outstanding Solo recognition:
- Aiden Gilreath, eighth grade, Outstanding Solo
- Hannah Smith, eighth grade, Outstanding Solo
- Other members of the group are Jesi Adaway, Liam Carpenter, Gracie Dixon, Eliana Dunham, Eziriah Gibbs, Mackenzie Herring, Hannah Huff, Kate Nguyen, Nam Nguyen, Gabi Ortega, Thomas Owen, James Shininger, Jayden Wallace, and Macey Wayman, eighth grade; Landon Beal, Carter Beck, Malaki Bozynski, Hannah Hines, Esley McClung, Alyssa Miller, Johnny Ortiz, Rodrigo Sanchez, Autumn Spradley, and Justice Sweat, seventh grade.
Jazz choir
This ensemble competed on March 2 at Western High School and earned a Gold. In addition, one student also earned Outstanding Solo recognition:
- Macey Wayman, eighth grade, Outstanding Solo
- Other members of the group are Audrey Alsup, Skylar Boogar, Isaiah Carpenter, Khloe DeLuna, Angeleah Garcia, Hannah Huff, Destiny Mendez, Kate Nguyen, RJ Slinkard, Parker Stiles, and Adin Turner, eighth grade; Lauren Anderson, Haley Clark, Aubriella Cruz, Talean Guederian, Jordyn Hullum, Ja’mela Johnson, RayMar Mays, Gaige Mitchell, Justice Sweat, Skai Terry, and Aleah Weaver, seventh grade.
