Benton Grade School received eight First Superior ratings, 44 Division One ratings and five Division Two ratings in the Illinois Grade School Music Association District 3 Solo and Ensemble Contest March 13.
Superior ratings were awarded to Lab Choir, Madrigal Choir, Girls' Ensemble, Macyn Tonn and Katie Childers, vocal duet; Kayla Krapf and Emeri Farnam, vocal duet; Kennedy Allen, vocal solo; Emeri Farnam, vocal solo; and Kayla Krapf, oboe solo.
Division One ratings were awarded to Hannah Auten, piano solo, and violin soloists Nicholas Hoffman, Johnel Eubanks and Bethany Cottle. Female vocal soloists were Katlin Jackson, Madison Morgan, Avery Miller, Amy Cocke, Tayloran Miller, Bessie Miller, April McGlasson, Casey Garrett, Jackie Fowler, Becca Cunningham, Katie Childers, Megan Buntin, Molly McGuire, Samantha Kinkade, Bethany Garrett, Emily Culbreth and Mika Cook. Male vocalists were Jordan Richey and Chance Hamilton. Division One vocal ensemble was Avery Miller and Madison Miller. The Bell Choir also received a Division One rating.
Instrumentalists receiving Division One ratings were flute soloists Bethany Cottle, Bre Hammonds, Sammi Franklin, Katie Shew, Raven Dean and Kesley Baker. Clarinet soloists were Kara Krapf and Sierra Tiberend. Alto saxophone soloists were Cortney Denbow and Ryan Rudloff. Playing trumpet solos were Tayloran Miller, Taylor Yucus, Hunter Sullivan and Andrew Lampley. Nick Hoffman performed on French horn, and Jordan Richey and Scott Mosley were trombone soloists. Trumpet ensemble receiving a Division One rating was Dillon Chamness and Alec Childers. Snare drum soloist Braxton Pulliam also received a Division One rating.
Division Two ratings were awarded to Stage Band, Sixth-Grade Band, snare drum solo Raven Denbow, trombone solo Dakotah Lampley, and vocal ensemble Mika Cook and Emily Culbreth.
Benton Grade School choirs are under the direction of Alisa Leffler, and Chad Minier is director of bands.
A successful day at contest is not possible without the help of talented accompanists and private studio teachers. Cheryl Herman, Karen King, Annette Lawson and Reatta Barnfield worked to prepare studeents for contest. Serving as accompanists were Alisa Leffler, Karen Dohme, Karen King, Annette Lawson, Bethany Sink, Bethany Crisp and student teacher Natasha Skibinski.
