CCS, WP musicians have good showing at District Music Contest

Chase County Schools hosted the District Music Contest for the second year in a row.
The schools who attended the District V Western Division events Friday were Hitchcock County, Arapahoe, McCook, Cambridge, Wauneta-Palisade, Dundy County/Stratton, Southwest, Medicine Valley, Maywood, and Chase County.
Both CCS music instructors, Agnes Strand, Director of Bands and David Rushing, high school vocal music instructor, both commented on how proud they were with their music students’ performances.
“I am super proud of all the hard work these kids showed over the last month. After finishing four outstanding performances for Shrek Jr., we jumped right into the music we would learn and perform last Friday,” Rushing said.
It was a big challenge getting the music prepared because following the musical, more than half the class was gone for FFA, FBLA, FCCLA, Sports/Clubs, etc. for quite some time, he said.
“I am really proud with how the day turned out and the work these kids put into preparing their music outside of class,” he added.
Vocal music results:
Madelynn Hanes, soprano/alto solo - I
Brooke Schilke, soprano/alto solo - II
Sophie Fiedler, soprano/alto solo - I
Lucy Spady, soprano/alto solo - II
Andrew Wiest, tenor/bass solo - I
Brendan Pump, tenor/bass solo - I
Lucy Spady/Sophie Fiedler, duet - I
Boys Sextet: Kevin Dannatt, Arturo Miscles Gamboa, Brendan Pump, Nick Rau, Mason Tyerman and Andrew Wiest - II
Girls Ensemble: Sophie Fiedler, Madelynn Hanes, Kisha Jameson, Joslyn Kimble, Delaney Krutsinger, Nevaeh Martin, Krista Meeske, Brooke Schilke, Lucy Spady, Athziry Valenzuela and McKenzie Vogt - I
Instrumental music results:
Ella O’Neil, flute solo - I (plus Outstanding Performance Honorable Mention)
LaReina Colton, flute solo - I
Virginia Kimble, alto sax solo - I
Zachary Herbert, trombone solo - I
Tristen Stumpff, trumpet solo - II
Kayla Chavira/Virginia Kimble, saxophone duet - II
Simply Jazz band - II
Concert band - I (plus plaque for Outstanding Performance)
“I am so incredibly proud of the results of my beloved band geeks’ entries,” Strand said.
She also appreciated how many of the students stayed long after the last entry to help haul everything out of the performance rooms and off the stage.
“David and I often talk about how we get to work with the best kids, and this is just one example of that,” she said.
WP results
Katherine Acton, K-12 music instructor for WP, said she was happy with her students’  scores overall.
“The kids’ hard work paid off, and now we know where we can grow for next year,” Acton said.
WP results:
Concert band received a III
Choir - II
Alto quartet (Chloe Manley, Abi Greaves, Jewel Holthus, Brooke Knotts) - II
Girls duet (Hailea Baker/Laila Aufdengarten) - II
Boys duet (Laiden Lawler/Allen Ramirez) - II
Hailea Baker, tenor sax solo - III
Collin Bley, snare drum solo - 1
Ruel Malcolm, snare drum solo - 1