Students from Barker and Krueger Middle Schools and Pine Elementary School competed at the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) District Solo and Ensemble Contest on Saturday, January 27. ISSMA is an annual contest for middle and high school vocalists that rates students according to their performance of music of increasing difficulty, ranging from Group V to Group I. This year’s event was held at Kankakee Valley Middle School in Wheatfield, Indiana.
Medals were awarded to the following soloists from Barker Middle School:
- Isabelle Eaton, Gold medal, Group IV
- Gabby Callahan, Gold medal, Group V
- Jasmine Berndt, Gold medal, Group IV
- Brienne Clark, Gold medal, Group V
- Kyla Mashburn, Silver medal, Group V
One ensemble from Barker received a Gold medal, as well as a perfect score, for its Group IV performance. Members included Isabelle Eaton, Jasmine Berndt, Kate Attar, and A'Syah Lemons.
Medals were awarded to the following soloists from Krueger Middle School
- Eliza Kestner, Silver medal, Group V
- Marianna Cain, Gold medal, Group V
- Melody Pearson, Gold medal, Group V
- Makalinn Jenks, Silver medal, group IV
- Kameron Davis, Silver medal, group IV
- Tristin Johnson, Gold medal, group IV
- Dajiunna Corley, Gold medal, group IV
- Paris Taylor, Silver medal, group III
- Savannah Holley, Gold medal, group III
- Erica Knudson, Gold medal, group III
Krueger also received medals for two Group IV ensembles. Earning a Silver medal for a Mixed Ensemble performance were: Amya Robinson, DiJonay London, Melody Pearson, Breana Turman , Jurnee Shannon, Makalinn Jenks, Kameron Davis, and Tyrone Jones. Earning a Gold medal for a Girls’ Ensemble were: Savannah Holley, Lilliah Moye, LaNajia Phillips, Eternity Sutton, Antriana Flowers, Dajiunna Corley, and LaMariya Turner.
Pine Elementary School, which Michigan City Area Schools’ magnet school for the visual and performing arts, was one of the few elementary schools in the state to send students to the ISSMA competition. The following students from Pine received medals:
- Brooklyn Accardi, Gold medal, Group IV
- Jaelynn Nelson, Gold medal, Group V
- Marie Lampton, Gold medal, Group V
A trio from Pine also received Gold for its Group V performance. Members included Marie Lampton, Kourtnie Stockley, and Alyssa Tracy.
Barker Middle School choral teacher is Stephanie Sobecki, Krueger Middle School choral teacher is Shirley Allen, and Pine Elementary School choral teacher is Jeanne Bolen.