‘Where hand, head and heart go together’ – paraphrased from John Ruskin
Mountain Lake Public High School (MLHS) recognized the contributions of the Fine Arts to a school curriculum with a Fine Arts Awards Reception on Sunday afternoon, May 15, “backstage” in the school’s auditorium. Honored were students who participated this past school year in music, drama and speech – including letter winners, solo and ensemble award recipients and this year’s seniors.
Distributing the awards were Kurt Jahnke, Director of Bands; Andrea Brinkman, Director of Choirs; Julie Brugman, Drama Director and Laurie Bartsch, Speech Coach.
In addition, a number of students shared their “superior” instrumental and/or vocal numbers presented at the Solo/Ensemble Contest held on Saturday, May 7, at Jackson County Central Public High School. Of 22 entries between the band and choir, 20 received superior ratings, while two just missed achieving that ranking by just one point.
Following is a photo gallery from the afternoon reception:
DIRECTOR OF BANDS at MLHS, Kurt Jahnke, presented a pair of Senior Music Awards at the reception. At left is Carmen Syverson, who received the Patrick Gilmore Band Award, and at right, Ryan McCue, who was presented the John Philip Sousa Award. . The Patrick S. Gilmore Band Award was introduced in 1994 in honor of the legendary bandmaster and impresario, Patrick Gilmore. Gilmore and his band joined General Burnside’s expedition to North Carolina in the Civil War. Gilmore also played for every president of his day – including Abraham Lincoln. This award honors outstanding high school band students and their achievements, leadership and commitment to the band. The John Philip Sousa Award – the highest award a band director can give – was created and introduced in 1955 with the approval of Helen Sousa Albert and Priscilla Sousa, daughters of . the famous composer and bandmaster. It recognizes superior musicianship, leadership, dependability, loyalty and cooperation
THE SCHOOL’S DRAMA Director, Julie Brugman, awarded the Drama Awards. Among the presentations was a trio of “outstanding” awards. From left, Sam Grev, Outstanding Performance in the One-Act Play, “The Middle of Yesterday; Carmen Syverson, Outstanding Actress and Ethan Karschnik, Outstanding Actor.
DAVID HALL, LEFT, and Jareya Harder, right, earned a superior rating for their duet, Chariot’s Coming.
THE SUPERIOR-RANKED brass quartet of, from left, Carmen Syverson and Kayla Vonk on trumpet, Ethan Karschnik playing the baritone and Sam Grev on the French horn. The four presented Song of the Sea.
WITH DIRECTOR OF Choirs Andrea Brinkman, left, accompanying him on piano, Ryan McCue, right, shared his superior vocal solo, Blow High Blow Low.
THE SONG, LOCH LOMOND, and the vocal presentation of it by Ruben Fentanez, was a superior-rated selection.
SAM GREV’S PERFORMANCE of Mozart’s Rondo on his French horn was ranked superior.
MINUET IMPRESSO, written by Mozart, and performed by the MLHS saxophone quartet, was ranked superior. From left, on alto sax are Tony Orea Morales and Sam Hirsch, on baritone sax is Ryan McCue and on bass sax, Braden Rempel.
THE FLUTE TRIO of, from left, Emily Jahnke, Lily Kauffman and Carly Paulson received a superior ranking for their Solo/Ensemble Contest selection.
WITH HER VOCAL solo on The Crucifixion, Carmen Syverson was was awarded a superior rating.
NOT ONLY DID Sam Hirsch earn a superior on his alto sax solo – he earned it by performing to a perfect 4.0 – and the judge in the room before whom he performed named him Best in Site of all the instrumentalists who presented a contest number in that room.
Mountain Lake Public High School (MLHS) recognized the contributions of the Fine Arts to a school curriculum with a Fine Arts Awards Reception on Sunday afternoon, May 15, “backstage” in the school’s auditorium. Honored were students who participated this past school year in music, drama and speech – including letter winners, solo and ensemble award recipients and this year’s seniors.
