David Bean submitted this article.
Morrison High School sent 48 events to the IHSA State Solo and Ensemble Music Contest held on Saturday, March 7, 2015, at West Carroll High School in Savanna, IL. Thirty-seven events earned Superior ratings, and 11 events earned Excellent ratings.
Other Illinois schools participating in this event were Forreston, West Carroll, Rock Falls, Byron, Oregon, Amboy, Eastland, Riverdale, Prophetstown, Annawan, Milledgeville, Ohio, and Polo. Each judge was asked to select one outstanding event from their room to receive special recognition. Three Morrison High School events were honored to receive the “Best of the Day” Award. Colleen Elfline and Derek Bush each received a “Best of Day” certificate for their band solos. The Morrison High School Madrigal Singers received a certificate for their vocal performance.
The following solos earned a Division I (superior) rating: flute solos by Allison Houldson, Holly Johnson, and Michaela McNeece; an oboe solo by Maya Zinke; clarinet solos by Eryn Young, Kaleb McCoy, Morgan Stuhlman, and Krysta Mapes; trumpet solos by Kyle McCoy and Landon McNeece; a saxophone solo by Colleen Elfline; a trombone solo by Andrew Rinker; euphonium solos by Dallas Wagenecht and Derek Bush; vocal solos by Allison Houldson, Andrew Rinker, Eric Sipes, Erin Nelson, Holly Johnson, Kaleb McCoy, Kelsey Middleton, Kyana Fuller, Kyle McCoy, Rachel Magana, Tessa Vander Bleek, and Zachariah Osborn.
These ensembles earned Division I ratings: a tuba/euphonium trio with Derek Bush, Ryan Tillman, and Jonathan Fulton; a saxophone quartet with Colleen Elfline, Darrin Bielema, Adam Deter, and Connor Hill; a trumpet trio with Thomas Hardesty, Eric Kull, and Mason Coons; a clarinet quartet with Eryn Young, Kaleb McCoy, Morgan Stuhlman, and Krysta Mapes; a woodwind trio with Maya Zinke, Holly Johnson, and Lauren Bender; a brass quintet with Allyssa Renner, Landon McNeece, Samantha Makl, Kelby Johannsen, and Ryan Tillman; a flute trio with Allison Houldson, Michaela McNeece, and Rebecca Coyle; the Morrison Madrigal Singers with Allison Houldson, Holly Johnson, Ashley Greul, Isabel Vander Bleek, Grant Abell, Brian Slater, Eric Sipes, Andrew Rinker, Kaleb McCoy, Kyle McCoy, Logan Scott, Zachariah Osborn, Elizabeth Sipes, Rachel Magana, Erin Nelson, Tessa Vander Bleek, and Kelsey Middleton; a vocal duet with Kelsey Middleton and Ashley Greul; a vocal duet with Kelsey Middleton and Erin Nelson; a mixed vocal ensemble with Logan Scott, Elizabeth Sipes, Grant Abell, Brian Slater, Eric Sipes, Kaleb McCoy, Kyle McCoy, Zachariah Osborn, and Andrew Rinker.
The following events earned a Division II (excellent) rating: vocal solos by Dallas Wagenecht, Elizabeth Sipes, and Logan Scott; a piccolo solo by Michaela McNeece; a flute solo by Lauren Bender; a mixed percussion ensemble with Kyle Workman, Collin Bland, Elizabeth Sipes, Isaac Damhoff, Logan Scott and Anthony Perez; a brass quintet with Kyle McCoy, Grant Abell, Danika Habben, Zachariah Osborn, and Jonathan Fulton; a brass duet with Andrew Rinker and Haley Zigler; a saxophone duet with Madison Steines and Dylan Pothoff; a euphonium duet by Dallas Wagenecht and Derek Bush; a trombone solo by Zachariah Osborn.