The Marionette would like to applaud the following musicians for their accomplishments in last month’s Solo and Ensemble Contests.

Ryan Choi, Kayleigh Peters, Danny Nguyen, Erick Ruigu, Brenda Galicia, Seth Hill, Corina Esparza, Elizabeth Ta, Tien Huynh, Zohaib Thayani, Joey Maher, Kade Wagner, Blake Bauer, Cerelia Larrinaga, Alessio Hall and Elizabeth Brosius received a Superior rating for their string ensemble. The group will travel to Stillwater for state later this month.

“It was fun experience,” Larrinaga said.

Cerelia Larrinaga’s cello solo earned an Excellent rating. Violin soloist, Seth Hill received an Excellent rating for his performance. Sophomores Kayleigh Peters and Elizabeth Ta received an Excellent for their violin duet. Ryan Choi’s violin solo earned him a Superior rating, which qualified him for the state competition.

Band students also had success at their district solo and ensemble contest in March.

Elise Widmer, Allegra Knight, Claire Widmer and Mitchel Williams earned a Superior rating for their woodwind quartet and passed onto state. Both Jake Burga and Allegra Knight received Superior ratings for their solos. Knight’s performance allows her to continue on to state competition.

The brass quartet members Ryan Biggers, Daniel Heckmen, Bailey VanSwearingen and Guillaume Saaty earned a Superior rating for their performance and will continue to State. This is the first time the band has sent a brass group to the state competition.

Elise Widmer, Claire Widmer, CJ Koso, Knight, Williams, Burga, Daniel Henthorn, Jeremiah Jacobson, Matt Webb, Biggers, Heckman, VanSwearingen, Amoree Wagner, Saaty and Devon Mizar performed as a small wind and percussion ensemble, and also received a Superior rating and State bid. The piece, “Prayer,” which was composed by Knight’s father Dr. Edward Knight for the group, was world-premiered at the contest.

“Getting to perform a piece for the very first time was a fantastic opportunity for all involved, ” said band director Kelli Taylor. “The fact that this group, which was just formed this school year, can take a brand-new piece and receive such high marks is indicative of how hard these students worked, and how talented Dr. Knight is.”

Burga, Webb, Jacobson and Henthorn also received an Excellent rating for their saxophone quartet.

This is the largest group of instrumentalists to travel to the state competition, Taylor said.

Additionally, the band attended a prestigious festival at the University of Central Oklahoma, where they also met and worked with composer David Maslanka. In addition to the on-stage clinic, the band students worked with UCO music faculty in a master class setting, where they learned more about playing their instruments.

Claire Widmer worked with Dr. Dawn Lindblade in her clairnet masterclass.

“She helped me understand some techniques and be more confident,” Widmer said.

Another group that deserves praise is the choir. They earned a Superior rating at the District group contest, earning them the opportunity to compete at State at Oklahoma Baptist University.

“I’m really proud, it is the first time in Harding’s history choir made it to State,” said junior Aneesha Moore.

The choir members also had success in the duets, ensembles and solos they performed at their solo and ensemble contest in February. The men’s ensemble which consisted of the following: Geoffery Barbour, Tristan Dow, Luis Palomino, Gage Hitzeman, Zach Teller, Chris Salzwedel and Marc Noto received an Excellent rating. The women’s ensemble received the same rating. The ladies responsible were Elise Widmer, Imelda Robles, Aneesha Moore, Kayslee Decker and Mallory Wyatt.

Soloists Hannah Mitchell and David Messiah received a Superior rating for their performances. The men’s vocal quartet also received a Superior rating. The group of gentlemen responsible include: David Messiah, Geoffrey Barbour, Guillaume Saaty and Tristan Dow.

Soloists Elise Widmer and Kayslee Decker both received Excellent ratings for their individual performances.

“I was judged by a college professor. He said I needed a bigger sound,” said senior Elise Widmer.

Widmer and Guillaume Saaty performed a duet and earned an Excellent rating.

Choir director Laura Gilson said she was very proud of her students and their hard work in the classroom.