NOTE TO EDITORS:
To identify WSMA Student Composition Project award recipients in your circulation area, please refer to the student list (PDF). Schools and cities are listed in zip code order for easy reference.
Print-ready photo of “2018 WSMA Student Composition Project Award Recipients” available here.
Contact: Kevin Thays
Phone: 608-850-3566
Web: www.wsmamusic.org
WAUNAKEE, Wis. (April 12, 2018) – Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) proudly presents the 2018 WSMA Student Composition Project winners. The following students from across the state were recognized for outstanding achievement with their original musical work during a special awards program at UW-Whitewater on April 7.
Division Winner
Murder On The Orient Express by Joey O’Connor from Washington Jr. High School, Manitowoc
Instrumental Solo
1st Place: Trumpet Serenade by Joey O’Connor from Washington Jr. High School, Manitowoc
Honorable Mention: The Dragon’s Hoard by Saathvik Gowda from Wisconsin Hills Intermediate School, Brookfield
Instrumental Ensemble
1st Place: Murder On The Orient Express by Joey O’Connor from Washington Jr. High School, Manitowoc
2nd Place: The Dance at Dawn by Robert X. Boudreau from Lance Middle School, Kenosha
3rd Place: Wisconsin Winters by Miles Gleason from Patrick Marsh Middle School, Sun Prairie
Collaborative Instrumental Ensemble
1st Place: Great Journey by Cody LaFond & Joey O’Connor from Washington Jr. High School, Manitowoc
Instrumental Jazz
1st Place: Night Alone On The New York Metro by Joey O’Connor from Washington Jr. High School, Manitowoc
Piano Solo
1st Place: Theme and Variations for Piano by Thaddaeus Markle from Phillips Middle School
2nd Place: Discovery of a New Planet by Brady Ksobiech from Oak Creek East Middle School
3rd Place: Jupiter Rain by Jeremy Cotturone from Park View Middle School
Honorable Mention: Autumn Frost by Grace Vanden Heuvel from Hortonville Middle School
Honorable Mention: Cross Wind by Molly Schmitz from Waunakee Middle School
Division Winner
At Daggerpoint by Joshua Catania & Jeremy Reutebuch from Kettle Moraine High School
Instrumental Ensemble
1st Place: Summit View by Carlos Meyers from Rufus King High School
2nd Place: Communion by Aaron Montreal from Port Washington High School
3rd Place: Concerto for Alto Flute/Flute and English Horn by Kaden Klein from Oregon High School
Honorable Mention: Iridescence by Benjamin Fagre from Middleton High School
Honorable Mention: Meticulous by Allison Olson from Eleva-Strum Central High School
Collaborative Instrumental Ensemble
1st Place: At Daggerpoint by Joshua Catania & Jeremy Reutebuch from Kettle Moraine High School
Instrumental Jazz
1st Place: Apasionado by Hunter Krolow from Shawano High School
Honorable Mention: El Día Del Sol by Rachel Tennier from Portage High School
Piano Solo
1st Place: Atmospheric Piece No. 1 by Brock Daumler from Green Bay East High School
2nd Place: Confluence, Mvts. 3, 5, 7, 8 by Carlos Meyers from Rufus King High School
3rd Place: Narrow Imploring Rifts by Aaron Montreal from Port Washington High School
Honorable Mention: Fantasie in E by Davie Liu from Cedarburg High School
Vocal Solo
1st Place: Prosim Hvezdy (I’m Asking The Stars) by Ester Jezkova from Badger High School, Lake Geneva
2nd Place: Tidewater by Rory Allan Sherrod from Mukwonago High School
Vocal Ensemble
1st Place: The Escape by Benjamin Kramer from Nicolet Unified High School, Glendale
2nd Place: Kyrie and Gloria by Reed Christian from Waunakee High School
3rd Place: Dream by Rebecca Gipson from Lake Mills High School
Honorable Mention: Deafening Silence by Aidan Lowery from Wabeno High School
The WSMA Student Composition Project encourages and recognizes the efforts of Wisconsin’s student composers. This year a total of 70 submissions were received for the project with 44 submissions in the High School Division (grades 9-12) and 26 in the Middle School Division (grades 5-8). Eight submissions received Honorable Mention distinctions and 19 students received awards based on merit in eight different categories.
The Student Composition Project provides student composers the opportunity to receive feedback regarding the positive qualities of his/her piece as well as provide ways to improve as a composer in the future. Each submission is reviewed and receives a written critique by a professional composer. Reviewers determine awards and winners. Division winners receive a scholarship to study composition.
For more information about WSMA and the Student Composition Project, go to wsmamusic.org/composition_project.
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Founded in 1932, Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) is a non-profit service organization with more than 1,000 member public and private schools. Students from member schools are eligible to participate in WSMA programs, such as District and State Music Festivals, Concert Festivals, State Honors Music Project, State Marching Band Championships and Student Composition Project. WSMA is governed by a board of directors made up of superintendents, principals and other officers from all over the state. WSMA believes music is a basic human need and that all children have the right to experience all that music offers them.
