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 “2019 WSMA Student Composition Project Award Recipients” available here.
Contact: Kevin Thays
Phone: 608-850-3566
Web: www.wsmamusic.org
WAUNAKEE, Wis. (April 5, 2019) – Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) proudly presents the 2019 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 March 30.
Division Winner
Brisk Walk Through Baton Rouge by Cody LaFond from Washington Junior High School, Manitowoc; Anthony Bauer – Teacher
Instrumental Solo
Honorable Mention: Over the Stream of Sorrow by Connor Markohn from Badger Middle School, West Bend; Darci Ketter – Teacher
Instrumental Ensemble
First Place: Operative Awakening by Ben Thuerman from Waupaca Middle School; Shana Rogney – Teacher
Second Place: Rendezvous with Nostalgia by Rhea Dalvie from Madison Country Day School, Waunakee; Philip Tietze – Teacher
Third Place: Shadows Revealed by Eric Swartz from Akira Toki Middle School, Madison; Gavin Garrett – Teacher
Honorable Mention: Voyager by Miles Gleason from Patrick Marsh Middle School, Sun Prairie; Chris Gleason – Teacher
Jupiter Rain by Jeremy Cotturone from Park View Middle School, Mukwonago; Jenny Peterson – Teacher
Miscellaneous Ensemble
First Place: The Evening Walk of the Hollow Man by Connor Markohn from Badger Middle School, West Bend; Darci Ketter – Teacher
Instrumental Jazz
First Place: Brisk Walk Through Baton Rouge by Cody LaFond from Washington Junior High School, Manitowoc; Anthony Bauer – Teacher
Second Place: Tin Forge by Connor Markohn from Badger Middle School, West Bend; Darci Ketter – Teacher
Jazz Piano
First Place: Skipping Stones by Jeremy Cotturone from Park View Middle School, Mukwonago; Jenny Peterson – Teacher
Piano Solo
First Place: Senses of a False Reality by Connor Markohn from Badger Middle School, West Bend; Darci Ketter – Teacher
Second Place: The End of an Era by Cody LaFond from Washington Junior High School, Manitowoc; Anthony Bauer – Teacher
Third Place: Blizzard by Molly Schmitz from Waunakee Community Middle School; Jessica Spicer – Teacher
Vocal Solo
First Place: How Can I Know? By Connor Markohn from Badger Middle School, West Bend; Darci Ketter – Teacher
Vocal Ensemble
First Place: Round the Lord in Glory Seated by Thaddaeus Markle from Phillips Middle School; Justin Lindgren – Teacher
Division Winner
Fantasy for Symphony Orchestra by Kaden Klein from Oregon High School; Michelle Kaebisch – Teacher
Instrumental Solo
First Place: The Trumpet Aria by Joey O’Connor from Washington Jr. High School, Manitowoc; Anthony Bauer – Teacher
Second Place: The End of Summer by Lilianna Rolands from Stevens Point Area Senior High School; Cynthia Kiepert – Teacher
Instrumental Ensemble
First Place: Fantasy for Symphony Orchestra by Kaden Klein from Oregon High School; Michelle Kaebisch – Teacher
Second Place: Mountains Beyond Mountains by Benjamin Fagre from Middleton High School; Douglas Brown, Teacher
Third Place: Adventure by Chance by Alyssa Fuller from Oak Creek High School; Guy Gregg – Teacher
Honorable Mention: Across the Map by James Rollins from Madison Country Day School, Waunakee; Jon Schipper – Teacher
Collaborative Instrumental Ensemble
First Place: Queens of Celts by Ethan Vivoda-Sadée and Quin Steinmetz from River Falls High School; Bryan Jaeckel – Teacher
Second Place: Contrast in A by Anvith Aravati and Aashay Mardikar from Brookfield Central High School; Denice Haney – Teacher
Instrumental Miscellaneous
First Place: Percusio by Eleri Beal from Madison Country Day School, Waunakee; Jon Schipper – Teacher
Second Place: The Fireskull Regiment by Joey O’Connor from Washington Jr. High School, Manitowoc; Anthony Bauer – Teacher
Miscellaneous Ensemble
First Place: My Music & Me by Joey O’Connor from Washington Jr. High School, Manitowoc; Anthony Bauer – Teacher
Second Place: Made For More by Laurel Adams from Cashton High School; Alyssa Ludeking – Teacher
Instrumental Jazz
First Place: Bossa Nova Blues by Kaden Klein from Oregon High School; Michelle Kaebisch – Teacher
Second Place: Hot Cocoa by Joey O’Connor from Washington Jr. High School, Manitowoc; Anthony Bauer – Teacher
Third Place: Three Times Over by Matthew DeChant from Germantown High School; Jonathan Bell – Teacher
Piano Solo
First Place: The Infinite Waltz by Isabelle Kramar from Homestead High School, Mequon; John Emanuelson – Teacher
Second Place: Respite by Benjamin Fagre from Middleton High School; Douglas Brown – Teacher
Third Place: Verso L’Alto by Michael Orosz-Fagen from Edgewood High School, Madison; Hikari Maekawa – Teacher
Honorable Mention: The Life of a Fox by Scott Rosendahl from Elkhorn Area High School; Sarah Wuttke – Teacher
Vocal Solo
First Place: Wehmut by Matthew DeChant from Germantown High School; Jonathan Bell – Teacher
Vocal Ensemble
First Place: When You Come by Lucas Zuehl from New Berlin Eisenhower High School; Natalie Baertschy – Teacher
Second Place: What Do You Do With A Drunken Sailor by Matthew DeChant from Germantown High School; Jonathan Bell – Teacher
Third Place: 451 on 429 by Joey O’Connor from Washington Jr. High School, Manitowoc; Anthony Bauer – Teacher
This year a total of 71 submissions were received for the project with 51 submissions in the High School Division (grades 9-12) and 22 in the Middle School Division (grades 5-8). Five submissions received Honorable Mention distinctions and 35 submissions received awards based on merit in 10 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.
