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Several Glenwood City, Boyceville musicians participate in D-SC Honors Band and Choir

GLENWOOD CITY — The best high school musicians throughout the Dunn-St. Croix Conference once again renewed their friendships and a long-running tradition when they gathered here on Saturday, January 31, 2015.

The Dunn-St. Croix All-Conference Honors Band and Choir Festival marked its 37th year in January as 183 student musicians and 18 instrumental and choral directors, including a guest conductor/clinician, from nine conference schools melded at Glenwood City High School on Saturday, January 31 for an afternoon filled with outstanding musical performances. The collaboration included students from Boyceville, Colfax, Durand, Elmwood, Glenwood City, Mondovi, Pepin, Plum City, and Spring Valley.

Glenwood City and Boyceville were once again well represented in the annual Dunn-St. Croix Music Honors Program.

Host Glenwood City, in particular, sent a large selection of student musicians. Glenwood City had 49 students participate in the 2015 event as 30 Hilltoppers comprised the 95-member band and 19 were participants of the honors choir, which was 88 voices strong.

Boyceville had 12, five musicians in the band and seven vocalists in the choir.

Started in 1979, the Dunn-St. Croix Honors Project was a way of bringing together the finest musicians in the conference. From its inception, the main philosophy was to have students from different schools work toward a common goal of cooperation and excellence rather than competing for first place. Even through conference realignments, this group of schools has remained dedicated to this goal as the Dunn-St. Croix Music Association.

For the 24th consecutive year, a guest conductor/clinician led a portion of the Honors Music Festival. This year the Dunn-St. Croix Honors Choir was under the direction of Frank A. Watkins, who led the choir through its five vocals selections. Watkins recently joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire as conductor of the Women’s Concert Chorale, Women’s Chorus, and University Symphonic Choir and Orchestra. Watkins has degrees in piano performance from Jackson State University, the University of Arkansas and choral conducting from Northwestern University. He completed his Doctoral of Musical Arts Degree from Michigan State University last fall.

The Honors Band also performed five instrumental pieces and were under the direction of Durand’s Eric MacTaggert, Pepin’s Nick Peters, Elmwood’s Jamie Mills, Plum City’s Mike Bonn, and Glenwood City’s Matt Lamb.

Selection to the Honors Band or Choir is based on an application process that measures student musical achievements through participation and involvement in a wealth of musical activities that include solo and ensemble festivals and previous honors groups. The application is combined with their music director’s recommendation to complete the process. The following area students were selected to the Dunn-St. Croix Honors Band and Choir.

Glenwood City

Choir: Erin Drinkman, Soprano I; Isabella Nadeau, Soprano I; Savannah Kessler, Soprano II; Ashley Holmquist, Soprano II; Lydia McLelland,  Soprano II; Megan Samens, Alto I; Nikki Gabbert, Alto I; Mikayla Roberts, Alto I; Mikaela Voeltz, Alto II; Kaylie Scalze, Alto II; Rachel Klatt, Alto II; Nick Schone, Tenor I; Jacob Nadeau, Tenor I; Owen Anderson, Tenor I; Kip Wallace, Tenor II; Todd Petersen, Tenor II; Liam Brandt, Bass I; Jacob Traynor, Bass II; and Mitchell Fallos, Bass II.

Band: Melina Schultz, Flute; Leslie Ludtke, Clarinet; Kayla Hill, Clarinet; Gabby Peterson, Clarinet; Taylor Drinkman, Clarinet; Natasha Rassbach, Clarinet; Cortney Lawson, Bass Clarinet; Marne Lewis, Contrabass Clarinet; Maya Petersen, Alto Saxophone; Morgan Kadinger, Alto Saxophone; Dakota Phalin, Alto Saxophone; Will Rosenow, Alto Saxophone; Andrew Bauman, Tenor Saxophone; Collin Schone, Baritone Saxophone; Abby Kahler, Baritone Saxophone; Owen Wagner, Trumpet; Matt Bauman, Trumpet; Ethan Kahler, Trumpet; Daimen Shaleen, Trumpet; Ellen Lindquist, French Horn; Nic Jensen, French Horn; Jake Hierlmeier, Trombone; Nathan Hill, Trombone; Bradley Kessler, Trombone; Gabby Porter, Euphonium; Jim Buttles, Tuba; Sam Melendrez, Tuba; Hannah Ludtke, Percussion; Colton Peskar, Percussion; and Bill Norenberg, Percussion.

Boyceville

Choir: Lexi Schmidt, Soprano I; Haley Hanson, Soprano I; Amanda McCoy, Alto I; Anna Hagen, Alto I; Lauren Klassen, Alto II; Lauren Wyss, Alto II; and Nate Aebly, Tenor II.

Band: Hannah Jerrie, Flute; Hunter Holten, Alto Saxophone; Nicole Bartos, Trumpet; Logan McAbee-Thomas, Trombone; and Maxwell Engel, Trombone.