Ridgewood Middle School music students attend festivals in Columbus

Joey Orand

WEST LAFAYETTE – Thirteen Ridgewood Middle School students recently had the opportunity to hone their music skills with others their age from throughout the state of Ohio.

Clarinet player Ryan Moses and trombone player Joey Orand attended the Ohio State University Middle School Honor Band Festival and choir students Logan Fechuch, Zander Brenneman, Kelley Masloski, Allison Edie, Katelyn Scott, Dakota Kealiher, Claire Mayse, Emily Fechuch, Haylee Kinsey, Kya Masloski, and Zoey Alan traveled to the Columbus Children’s Choir Choral Festival.

“I was proud to go,” said Brenneman who is in the fifth grade. “It was awesome.”

The students spent time learning several songs and then performed at the end of the day.

Ryan Moses

Fifth grader Kealiher said they learned about four songs.

“We also got to work on learning how to warm up our voices,” said Kya, who is in the fifth grade. “I also liked getting to sing with the other kids and meeting them.”

Attending the festival encouraged all three of them to keep up with choir.

“I nominated them to attend the festival,” said Jennifer Shanks, middle school music teacher and choir director. “I came here from Columbus and was familiar with the children’s choir there. I want to get the students involved and exposed to opportunities outside of their local area.”

While at the choir festival the students had the opportunity to work with Rollo Dilworth, who Shanks said is a famous modern day choral composer.

Eleven Ridgewood Middle School students recently had the opportunity to attend the Columbus Children’s Choir Choral Festival. Pictured from left in front are: Claire Mayse, Emily Fechuch, Haylee Kinsey, Kya Masloski, Zoey Alan and in back are Logan Fechuch, Zander Brenneman, Kelley Masloski, Allison Edie, Katelyn Scott, and Dakota Kealiher. Contributed | Beacon

“The students were divided into elementary and middle school groups and he taught the older group, but both got to sing his music in the concert,” Shanks said. “I was so excited for all of them. They kept up, answered questions and made new friends. I was very proud.”

She also had a hand in nominating the band students along with Band Director John Lindig.

“We submitted eight or nine nominations to Ohio State and they selected two from our school,” Shanks said. “There were 900 total applicants and only 362 were selected so it was a real honor for them. They worked with different directors and like the choir students got to perform at the end of their day.”

Both festivals were held on Feb. 25 and were a full day of learning and performing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“I would definitely like to send kids again next year,” Shanks said.

Category: Education