FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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.
Contact: Kevin Thays
Phone: 608-850-3566
Web: www.wsmamusic.org
WAUNAKEE, Wis. (April 24, 2020) – Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) proudly presents the 2020 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 held virtually on Saturday, April 4.
Middle School Division Award Winners (Grade 5-8)
Division Winner
Case Closed by Jeremy Cotturone from Park View Middle School, Mukwonago; Jennifer Peterson – Teacher
Instrumental Ensemble
First Place: Case Closed by Jeremy Cotturone from Park View Middle School, Mukwonago; Jennifer Peterson – Teacher
Second Place: The Peninsula by Miles Gleason from Cardinal Heights Upper Middle School, Sun Prairie; Joseph Mesner – Teacher
Concert Band/Orchestra
First Place: March of the Resistance by Rhea Dalvie from Madison Country Day Middle School, Waunakee; Philip Tietze – Teacher
Piano Solo
First Place: Intrepid Journey by Jeremy Cotturone from Park View Middle School, Mukwonago; Jennifer Peterson – Teacher
Second Place: Falling Leaves by Payton Newhouse from Saint Francis Xavier Middle School, Appleton; Jeremiah Eis – Teacher
Third Place: Doggos from Space by Will Sullivan from Saint Francis Xavier Middle School, Appleton; Jeremiah Eis – Teacher
Honorable Mention: Voyagers: The Journey Into the Unknown by Liam Kendziorski from Glacial Drumlin Middle School, Cottage Grove; Janet Heinemann – Teacher
Vocal Solo
First Place: Sail the World by Fiona Hernandez from University School of Milwaukee Middle School, Milwaukee; Miriam Altman – Teacher
Honorable Mention: Blackhole by Madaleine Hill from North Cape School, Franksville; Chelsea Kuhlow – Teacher
Vocal Ensemble
First Place: Identity by Eryka Machan and Audriana Meinholz from Fox River Middle School, Waterford; Deanna Kulow – Teacher
High School Division Award Winners (Grade 9-12)
Instrumental Solo
First Place: Pioggia Piene di Sentimento by Connor Markohn from West Bend High School; Corey Murphy – Teacher
Honorable Mention: Of Clowns and Calliopes by Joey O’Connor from Lincoln High School, Manitowoc; Rebekah Mueller – Teacher
Instrumental Ensemble
First Place: Woodland Mysteries by David Liu from Cedarburg High School; Adam Hardt – Teacher
Second Place: Sense of Mahogany by Quin Steinmetz from River Falls High School; Bryan Jaeckel – Teacher
Third Place: Crosswinds by Tim Wang from Arrowhead Union High School, Hartland; Sarah Dunmire – Teacher
Concert Band/Orchestra
First Place: Into the Night by Caleb Endres from Oak Creek High School; Guy Gregg – Teacher
Second Place: Wind Tunnel by Ethan Vivoda-Sadee from River Falls High School; Bryan Jaeckel – Teacher
Third Place: Dragon Wars by Kimmy Drace from DC Everest Senior High School, Weston; Joseph Finnegan – Teacher
Honorable Mention: Letters to You by Isabelle Kramar from Homestead High School, Mequon; John Emanuelson – Teacher
Instrumental Jazz
First Place: Get Off the Tracks! by Joey O’Connor from Lincoln High School, Manitowoc; Rebekah Mueller – Teacher
Second Place: Fentilde by Ashden Nuttall from Logan High School, La Crosse; Mark Lakmann – Teacher
Third Place: Night and Day by Dylan Keys from Delavan Darien High School, Delavan; Nick Stark – Teacher
Honorable Mentions:
Warm Pancakes by Lance Letellier from New Berlin Eisenhower High School, New Berlin; Ryan Meisel – Teacher
April, 20th by Daniel Schmidt from Indian Trail High School and Academy, Kenosha; Jeremy Kriedeman – Teacher
Piano Solo
First Place: Fugue in A Major by Alexander Alden from Shorewood High School; Karen Frink – Teacher
Second Place: Concert Etude in C Sharp Minor by Andrew Wieler from Grafton High School; Rachael Stein – Teacher
Third Place: Wintertide Sonata by Connor Markohn from West Bend High School; Corey Murphy – Teacher
Honorable Mention:
Dusk to Dawn by Claire Punke from Fennimore High School; Aisha Durst – Teacher
Rondo in Eb by Caitlin Heineman from Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School, Galesville; Brenda Gauchel-Sill – Teacher
Etude in B Flat Minor by Chase Van Benschoten from Madison Memorial High School; Carol Jenkins – Teacher
Piano Ensemble
First Place: Emerald Tides by Isabella Nichols from Kettle Moraine High School, Wales; Todd Jaeger – Teacher
Second Place: Piano Trio No.1 by Nathan Holzhauer from New Berlin Eisenhower High School, New Berlin; Natalie Baertschy – Teacher
Third Place: Mudslide by Robert Danner from Grafton High School; Rachael Stein – Teacher
Vocal Solo
First Place: Cover the Mirrors by Alexander Alden and Julia Appel from Shorewood High School; Karen Frink – Teacher
Second Place: When You Never Said Goodbye by Joey O’Connor from Lincoln High School, Manitowoc; Rebekah Mueller – Teacher
Third Place: Rumors From an Aeolian Harp by Alexander Alden from Shorewood High School; Karen Frink – Teacher
Honorable Mention: Teach Them To See by Laurel Adams from Cashton High School; Skyler Erickson – Teacher
Vocal Ensemble
First Place: Lux Aeterna by Connor Markohn from West Bend High School; Corey Murphy – Teacher
Second Place: Psalm 45 by Thaddaeus Markle from Phillips High School; Justin Lindgren – Teacher
Third Place: Come Back, Rowan by Joey O’Connor from Lincoln High School, Manitowoc; Rebekah Mueller – Teacher
Vocal Jazz
First Place: I’ll Find You by Joey O’Connor from Lincoln High School, Manitowoc; Rebekah Mueller – Teacher
Miscellaneous Ensemble
First Place: Romeo And Juliet Aria by R. Xaiden Boudreau from Tremper High School, Kenosha; Helen Breitenbach – Teacher
This year a total of 113 submissions were received for the project with 97 submissions in the High School Division (grades 9-12) and 16 in the Middle School Division (grades 5-8). Eleven submissions received Honorable Mention distinctions and 34 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.
