Students Perform at State Solo & Ensemble Music Festival at Cardinal Stritch University

Thousands of dedicated middle and high school student musicians from across the state prepared for the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) State Solo & Ensemble Festivals.  

 

Ten university campuses hosted performances by more than 20,000 students, making this event one of the largest of its kind in the nation. UW-Milwaukee, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Platteville, Viterbo University and UW-Whitewater will hold festivals on April 30.  Cardinal Stritch University, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Green Bay, UW-Parkside and UW-Stevens Point festivals will be held on May 7. Solo & Ensemble Festivals are scheduled for 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  An evening Jazz Festival will take place on May 6 at UW-Green Bay.  All events are open to the public and free of charge.  

 

Students must earn a “starred first” rating in Class A (which consists of the most difficult music) at a WSMA District Music Festival to qualify for WSMA State Music Festivals. The participants, in grades 6-12, can choose from a variety of instrumental and vocal solo and ensemble categories for their performances in district festivals throughout the state, including in-person festivals and the WSMA Virtual District Festival.  Over the past six months, WSMA has held over 140 such events, involving more participants than any other student activity.

 

On Saturday, May 7, 2022, students from area schools participated in a Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) sanctioned State Solo & Ensemble Music Festival hosted at Cardinal Stritch University. During the festival students performed vocal and instrumental solos, duets, trios and small ensembles before an adjudicator.  WAWM Students from Central, Nathan Hale, and Frank Lloyd Wright represented our district at the festival.  

 

West Allis Central HS Orchestra: 3 silver medals

West Allis Nathan Hale HS Band 3 gold + 28 silver = 31 medals

West Allis Nathan Hale HS Choir 24 gold medals

West Allis Nathan Hale HS Orchestra 59 gold + 29 silver = 88 medals

Frank Lloyd Wright Intermediate School: 1 silver medal

District Total: 86 gold + 61silver = 147 medals

 

Hale: Symphonic String Choir, Pops Strings, two Vocal Ensembles, Brook Lynn Buchholz (voice), Brooke Crowley (voice), Sophia DeAngelis (piano), Nathan Stringer & Sophia DeAngelis (piano duet),  Gavriilia Fyrogeni (bass), Olivia Gross (voice), Clara Haass (voice), Samyiah Harper (voice), Jack Hutter (violin), Erin Krasovich (violin), Alexandra Kunda (violin, viola, cello), Ella McGinley (bass), Ava Roberts (piano), and Liam Thoen (cello)

 

FLW: Ethan Pawak (viola)

Hale: Brass Ensemble, Concert String Choir, Brae Bigelow (viola), Ella McMillin (violin), Aria Kuenzli (violin) Emily Pawlak (violin), Raymond Vaughn (violin), Nathan Stringer (euphonium), Valerie Yang (violin)

Central: Moncerrat Cervantes (violin), Eleanor Szalacinski (violin), Jessica Sheets (viola)

 

The Exemplary Performance Recognition Project expands recognition of outstanding student performers at the WSMA State Solo & Ensemble Festival. State festival adjudicators identify exceptional performances at each of the state festival campuses through a two step process: nomination and final selection. Students who are selected for the award receive a certificate from WSMA in recognition of their outstanding performance at the State Festival.

 

Step 1. Nomination

Throughout the day, adjudicators have an opportunity to nominate students whose performance was truly exceptional – beyond what is typically expected for this age group.

 

Step 2. Final Selection

At the end of the day, each adjudicator selects the most exceptional performances to receive the Exemplary Performance Award from among those nominated.