Moberly music department performs at districts

Photo by Liz Morales

Both instrumental and vocal students from the Moberly High School recently participated in the District Music Festival held in Mexico.

On Thursday, the two high school bands and choirs went to Mexico to perform for what is the sate level event for large ensembles. Each band and choir received an Excellent rating from a panel of judges.

On Saturday, soloists and small ensembles returned to Mexico for district level performances. Only those receiving a superior rating are eligible to move on to the state festival held in Columbia.

Those students who qualified for state include: vocal solos – Hannah Culbertson, Naomi Lewis, Joshua Lewis, Alex Guerrero, Caleb Benitez, C.J. Harding. Instrumentals include Josh Warren, tenor sax solo; Dani Canaday, clarinet solo; Allye Williams, flute solo; Sarah David, alto sax solo; and Gabe Warren, Travis Bailey and Jennifer Henderson, trombone trio.

Those receiving II ratings include: Destiny Joiner and Lauren Bell, vocal solos; Gabe Warren, trombone solo; Chance Drewery, trumpet solo; Suzanne Heddinghaus, trumpet solo; Ian Worstell, bassoon solo; Mae Taha, tenor sax solo; John Grisham, snare drum solo; Joel Tayon, alto sax solo; Karissa Long, flute solo; Jeremy Turner, trumpet solo; Joelle Axton, Lydia Washam and Cheyenne Hubert, trumpet trio; Eric Campbell, Chance Drewery, Suzanne Heddinghaus and Chris Grizzle, trumpet quartet; Josua Lewis, Matt Steffen, Caleb Benitez, Alex Guerrero, Trent Spires, C.J. Harding, Matt Ward and Dakota McWhorter, men’s double quartet.

The following were recipients of III ratings: Mae Taha, Ebony Williams, Halea Schauer, Dakota McWhorter, vocal solos; Trey Smith, snare drum solo; Eunas Taha, bari sax solo; Kierra Potter, mallet solo; Emily Dalton, flute solo; and the men’s quartet of Matt Steffen, Austin Carlin, C.J. Harding and Matt Ward.

Chelsey Smith received a IV for a vocal solo and Noah Pitney received a IV for his snare drum solo.