Five students at MHS, MJH earn Outstanding Solo awards at ISSMA jazz competitions

Recently, the choral and instrumental jazz ensembles from Marion High School and McCulloch Junior High took home several awards from ISSMA’s annual district jazz competition, and five students earned Outstanding Solo awards. 
 
At the Indiana State School Music Association’s district jazz competitions on March 1 and 2, Marion High School had four ensembles competing, and McCulloch Junior High School had two ensembles competing. Here’s a look at the awards earned, and the students involved: 
 

Marion High School:

Jazz 1 instrumental ensemble 
 
This ensemble competed on March 1 at Kokomo High School and earned a Gold rating in Group I (the most difficult division). In addition, two students also earned Outstanding Solo recognition: 
  • Andrew Hancock, junior, Outstanding Solo, alto saxophone
  • Aiden Johnson, senior, Outstanding Solo, tenor saxophone
  • Other members of this group are Nathaniel Agulia, Kaydence Chambers, Noah Crisp, Elijah Maki, and Rylan Smithley, seniors; Easton Emery, David Graham, Caleb Huff, Damien Martin, Jacen Rose, and Kyliegh Yeakle, juniors; Andersson Guevara, Justin Peters, and Manuel Trejo, sophomores; Micah Hawkins, Axel Ortiz, and Lincoln Steenbergh, freshman
 
Marion High School Jazz 1 ensemble poses for a photo with their ISSMA Jazz Competition plaque for their Group I Gold rating in March 2024
Marion High School Jazz 1 members Andrew Hancock and Aiden Johnson earned Outstanding Solo awards at the ISSMA Jazz Competition in March 2024
 
 
Jazz 2 instrumental ensemble 
 
This ensemble competed on March 2 at Kokomo High School and earned a Silver in Group III. 
 
  • Members of this group are Trenton Southern, senior; Emoshaw Brown, Shaeli Castaneda, Damien Evans, Chayim Hofmann, Jamari Johnson, Jayden Johnson, Tim Jones, Elijah McCray, Lucas Payne, sophomores; Ashton Circle, Nicholas Easter, Ethan Fain, Gavin Johnson, Alexa Ortiz, Jethe Paduga, Colin Royse, Landen Shanks, Arabella Stanley, freshmen 
 
Marion High School Jazz 2 ensemble poses for a photo at the ISSMA Jazz Competition where they earned a Silver rating in March 2024 
 
 
Innovations show choir
 
This ensemble competed on March 2 at Western High School and earned a Silver in Group III.
  • Members of this group are Aliya Cruz, Gabe Fisher, Kevin Hernandez, Mary Herrington, Jayda Kelly, Lilly Koegel, Wyatt Mangus, and Graysen Shanks, freshmen; Jazleen Roby and Zoey Wayman, sophomores; Kryuna Shumock, junior.
 The Marion High School Innovations show choir poses with their Silver award at the ISSMA Jazz Competition in March 2024
 
 
Jazz choir
 
This ensemble competed on March 2 at Western High School and earned a Silver in Group III. 
 
Members of this group are Aldin Balderas, Katrina Castator, Selah Craig, Lucy Jenkins, Graysen Shanks, and Nick Smith, freshmen; Brooklynn Deaton and Layla Ensor, sophomores; Jocelyn Menning and Lilli Williams, seniors.
The MHS jazz choir earned a Group III Silver at the ISSMA Jazz Contest on March 2 at Western High School.
 

McCulloch Junior High School

Jazz band
 
This ensemble competed on March 1 at Kokomo High School and earned a Gold. In addition, two students also earned Outstanding Solo recognition: 
 
  • Aiden Gilreath, eighth grade, Outstanding Solo
  • Hannah Smith, eighth grade, Outstanding Solo
  • Other members of the group are Jesi Adaway, Liam Carpenter, Gracie Dixon, Eliana Dunham, Eziriah Gibbs, Mackenzie Herring, Hannah Huff, Kate Nguyen, Nam Nguyen, Gabi Ortega, Thomas Owen, James Shininger, Jayden Wallace, and Macey Wayman, eighth grade; Landon Beal, Carter Beck, Malaki Bozynski, Hannah Hines, Esley McClung, Alyssa Miller, Johnny Ortiz, Rodrigo Sanchez, Autumn Spradley, and Justice Sweat, seventh grade.
 The McCulloch Junior High School jazz band poses with their Gold award at the ISSMA Jazz Competition in March 2024
 
McCulloch Junior High School students Hannah Smith and Aiden Gilreath earned Outstanding Solo awards at the ISSMA Jazz Competition in March 2024
 
 
Jazz choir
 
This ensemble competed on March 2 at Western High School and earned a Gold. In addition, one student also earned Outstanding Solo recognition: 
  • Macey Wayman, eighth grade, Outstanding Solo 
  • Other members of the group are Audrey Alsup, Skylar Boogar, Isaiah Carpenter, Khloe DeLuna, Angeleah Garcia, Hannah Huff, Destiny Mendez, Kate Nguyen, RJ Slinkard, Parker Stiles, and Adin Turner, eighth grade; Lauren Anderson, Haley Clark, Aubriella Cruz, Talean Guederian, Jordyn Hullum, Ja’mela Johnson, RayMar Mays, Gaige Mitchell, Justice Sweat, Skai Terry, and Aleah Weaver, seventh grade.
The McCulloch Junior High jazz choir poses for a photo at ISSMA Jazz Competition in March 2024, where they earned a Gold rating
 
McCulloch Junior High School student Macey Wayman earned an Outstanding Solo award at the ISSMA Jazz Competition in March 2024
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