Marshall Democrat-News: Local News: Marshall choirs bring home honors

"Wonderful," "exciting," "well rehearsed," "I was moved to tears."

These were some of the comments used by judges to describe the performances of the Marshall High School Choirs at the Missouri State High School Activities Association State Choral Festival held Thursday, March 19, in Boonville, according to a news release from Ron Sayer, MHS vocal music director.

Eighty-nine advanced choir students from Marshall High School performed in four performances for a panel of judges during the course of the afternoon. Students performing were from MHS Singers and Choraliers and also combined to form a Men's Choir and a Women's Choir.

All four choirs earned straight "I" (one) ratings from the judges with the Men's Choir earning the lone "I+" rating given all day by the judges.

Ratings are given using a "I" to "V" scale with "I" representing a superior performance and a "V" representing a weak performance. Judges gave ratings ranging from a "I+" to a "IV-" on Thursday.

MSHSAA defines the "I" rating as being awarded "for a clearly superior performance ... worthy of the distinction of being recognized as among the very best for the event."

In addition to Marshall, choirs participating at the District 14 State Choir Festival included Warrensburg, Odessa, Higginsville, Cole Camp, Smith-Cotton, Warsaw, Hughesville, Santa Fe, Boonville, Knob Noster, Stover and Lincoln.

MSHSAA officials believe that such evaluative festivals have several purposes. Among them are "to provide opportunities to demonstrate before the public the best knowledge, training, skills and repertoire taught through a particular activity, and to evaluate the best that is taught in a school system in comparison with accepted standards of excellence."

The choirs of Marshall High School are directed by Ron Sayer, who is in his 24th year of teaching. Sayer said he is proud to say that with the performance of this year's choirs, his students have earned more than 1,500 medals in MSHSAA state performance since he began teaching in Marshall.

Students who participated in the festival:

Emily Aldredge	Nick Hoffmann	Zach Pannell
Katie Arends	Bailey Johnson	Mercedes Parker
Mac Evans	Cassie Johnson	Jordan Reith
Carter Austin	Lauryn Jones	Morgan Ryther
Whitney Baldridge	Mella Kays	Mikaela Schenewerk
Tara Bartel	Rebecca Keller	Rick Schulenberg
Xochi Bennett	Laura Kiser	Amber Siefkas
Breanna Bockman	Morgan Lamberson	Cheyenne Simmons
P.J. Bosley	Cori Laxson	Daniel Simmons
Emily Cadwell	Hyrum Lee	Kelsie Sims
Siara Campbell	Caitlin Lobaugh	Susan Skogsberg
Tyrone Chess	Hunter Lobaugh	Ryan Smith
Lizz Lockhart	Susan Malan	Jacob Stanton
Shelby McCoy	Amber Marcum	Jordan Stewart
Chandra Crawford	Brittany Markes	Lauren Thomas
Sara DePaoli	Lexi McDanel	Ally Thompson
Olivia Diehm	Stephanie Heinzler	Damon Thompson
Sarah Downs	Lucas Milliron	Bryan Tovar
Eden Elfrink	Samantha Morris	Katelyn Wells
Eboni Ervin	Stormy Morrison	Holly Wettlaufer
Janna Fisher	Ethan Murphy	Kayla Whyte
Nathan Foreman	Sally Najera	Nathaniel Williams
Samantha Garner	Kelsey Payne	Sara Willis
Katie Green	Jane Peart	Taylor Witcher
Dylan Fornshell	Aubrie Plummer	Derek Wood
Drew Harris	Jamie Pointer	Kaleigh Summers
Kate Hartley	Narrah O'Neal	Joe Narron
Laura Harvey	Brandon Pace	Jacob Phillips
Audra Taylor	Phillip Perkins	Connor Thomas
Kellin Townsend

Enough cannot be said of Mr. Sayer and his efforts for the students at Marshall High, as well as the community. I hope these students appreciate all the hard work he exerts and the discipline he requires of them to achieve such success. These accolades, in addition to the many individual performers who excel each year, uphold Mr. Sayer's dedication to excellence. I have seen many students develop professionally from under his guidance; kudos for all the past success and best wishes for the future. Congratulations to each of the students, and Thank you to Ron Sayer!!

-- Posted by somewhere out there on Fri, Mar 27, 2009, at 4:12 PM