Students from Marietta, Shenandoah high schools take top honors at 8th annual Honor High School Solo Recital

by Tom Perry

Marietta, Ohio (03/13/2019) — Two Marietta High School students and another from Shenandoah High School claimed the top spots in Marietta College's eighth annual Honor High School Solo Recital on March 2.

Marietta High School's Christian MesMarteau, a tenor, earned the top spot in the vocal division, while Jodan Weber, marimba, of Scott Kitchen private studio, finished first in the keyboard division. Shenandoah's Corey Feldner, tuba, won the instrumental division.

"This was our second largest one with a total of 31 performances and a wide variety of instruments and voice," said Marshall C. Kimball, Music Department Chairman. "Thanks to our college Music majors, the event was probably the smoothest event that we've had. The students help in the organizational process and then serve all day long to make certain that the event is well organized. From registration to ushering, stage manager, guides, doorkeepers/timers for accompanist rehearsal time, and photographers, the students learn all the elements it takes to plan and carry off an event. It's a great learning experience for them."

The event is hosted by the Edward E. MacTaggart Department of Music and the Marietta College chapter of the National Association for Music Education Collegiate (CNAfME).

Performing to a large crowd in the Alma McDonough Auditorium, 31 high school musicians, representing 13 high schools and three private studios, presented their musical solo work for a panel of judges who decided the top three places in each category.

Prizes for each division were $150 and trophy (first place), $100 and trophy (second place) and $50 and trophy (third place). All student performers received a specially designed medallion in recognition of their musical achievements.

Other students placing in the competition were:

Instrumental division - Austin McClearly, guitar, West Muskingum High School, second place; Graci Kelley, John Glenn High School, third place.

Vocal division - Tyler Hartline, bass, Marietta High School, second place; Elizabeth Hoover, soprano, Gallia Academy High School, third place.

Keyboard division - Austin Tolley, marimba, Ripley High School, Scott Kitchen private studio, second place; Nondyce Gulick, piano, Marietta High School, Karen Young Piano Studio, third.

"We had probably the largest audience we have ever had," Kimball said. "The appreciative audience obviously enjoyed the performances of all the students, although some of the families also had their favorites at the same time. It's heart-warming to bring a group of high school musicians together to allow them to show their talents but to also give them an opportunity to network and support each other."

Located in Marietta, Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts college. Tracing its roots to the Muskingum Academy back in 1797, the College was officially chartered in 1835. Today Marietta College serves a body of 1,200 full-time students. The College offers 49 majors and is consistently ranked as one of the top regional comprehensive colleges by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review, as well as one of the nation's best by Forbes.com. Marietta was selected seventh in the nation according to the Brookings Institution's rankings of colleges by their highest value added, regardless of major.

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