This year's annual conference music festival was held at Westfield Area HS/MS on Saturday, February 22nd.
Middle and high school band and choir students performed solos and ensembles in front of live audiences
and received verbal and written feedback and performance ratings from WSMA adjudicators.
The Westfield Area Music Department represented 46% of the 302 total band and choir events performed.
The Westfield Area Middle School Band represented 38% of the 153 total middle and high school instrumental events.
The Westfield Area Middle School Band performed 58 total events, 40 Class C and 18 Class B events.
This is the most events performed by this group since 2014.
The following middle school band students received first ratings in Class B:
Joe Solterman, Wil Stauffacher, Mia Fuehrer, Gabe Akers, Memphis Hinze, Abby Anason, Bentley Smalley,
and a duet by Joe Solterman and Wil Stauffacher.
The following middle school band students received second ratings in Class B:
Amelia Peschel, Emma Ryfkogel and Mitchell Klingbeil.
The following middle school band students received first ratings in Class C:
Logan Dunn, Archer Fetzer, Thomas Johnson, Adrian Shekels, Mayzie Schnell, Colin Nemitz, Blake Parker,
John Rodger, Emily Palmer, Dom Beutler, Ella Zarnoth, Gena Eager, Parker Schroeder, Mario Lavia, Levi Ring,
Brody Grimmenga, Nolan Vossekuil, Riley Hennig, Josh Thome; and duets by Maverick Patten/Cooper Patten,
Mia Fuehrer/Mike Traxler, Parker Schroeder/Mario Lavia, Ivy Gray/Angie Bastien, Elijah Prophet/Donovan Lundquist.
The following middle school band students received second ratings in Class C:
Carter Lloyd, Logan Hamilton, Riley Landgraf; and duets by Mellina Escoto/Danielle Thome, Chloe Miller/Mellina Escoto,
Klay Kohnke/Jackson Wedell, Abby Anason/Lucy Virch, Raegan Nelson/Mackenzie Sigourney, Henry Marotz/Tanner Bittelman,
and Sam Grant/Tucker Buchholz.
Additionally, ten sixth grade beginning band students performed in this year's festival,
which is the highest level of involvement among beginning band students in this event in 20 years.
The following sixth grade beginning band students performed in Class C and received the following ratings:
Lyndi Meyer (1), Harper Patten (1), Taylor Wepking (1), Aubri Hell (1), Ava Wulf (1), Aubree Turner (1), Amy Cayetano (1),
Tia Rugg (2), Jasper Steuck (2), and Theo Stauffacher (2).
Although the ratings provide students and directors with objective feedback, the ratings should not overshadow the most valuable
elements of this event, which is the effort, resiliency, and musical growth students display while faced with the adversity
of performing in public.