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Besides Ian and Tim Best of Center awards, other I+'s were awarded to soloists Ian, trumpet; Anne Buckwalter, piano and clarinet; Jerrica Gossen, Dylan Schrock, Cody Graber, Taylor Kurtz, clarinet; Emily Meader, Kennady Miller, Haylee Marner, Leah Parrott, piano; Cody Miller, Angelina Kazakov, tenor sax; Ashley Goll, clarinet; Mariah Swartzentruber, Austin Schlabaugh, Kristina Leedy and Bailie Harris. I+ ensembles were Cassidy Bontrager/Renee Buckwalter/Ashley Sojka/Lexy Wadsworth; Ashley Miller/Haley Slabaugh/Sadie Goll; and Alissa Matveyuk/Larissa Wyse.
Soloists earning I's were Renee Buckwalter, piano; Abbie DeWild, piano; Marisol Shryock, Haley Slabaugh, piano; Retha Miller, piano; Laura Yoder, Michaela Gingerich, Eva Ethredge, Andy Roberts, piano and alto sax; Hannah Ball, alto sax; Asia Young, Kelsie Gingerich, Anna Mayer, Grant Schlabaugh, Jon Burns, Emma Allen, Cody Knepp, Heath Schintler, Taylor Kurtz, bass clarinet; Brody Miller, Carissa Tolander, Kaleb Michel, Scott Wesenberg, Nick Stimson, Angelina Kazakov, trombone; Adam Wilmore, Tommy Rhodes, Shelly Palmer, clarinet and oboe; Maddie Gent, Jonah VanRoekel, violin and trumpet; David Lindemann, Tyler Graber, Antonia Larsen, Emily Childs, Ashley Goll, alto sax; Hanna Mansfield, Tayler Foster, Jonas Coblentz and Wade Stutzman.
Ensembles earning I's were Logan Wadsworth/Leah Parrott, tri toms; Christian Johnson/Ty Feigenspan; Natalie Bennett/Elysia Statsny; Abbie DeWild/Sydney Scarff; Brennyn Hawbaker/Mason Wiles; Retha Miller/Jenna Hochstetler; Asia Young/Allyson Harapat; Laura Hochstetler/Kari Horesowsky; Kirby Shetler/Jarrett Truitt; Kaycee Miller/Leah Born; and Courtney Cayton/Lauren Swantz/Arissa Marine.
II's were given to Hannah Ball, clarinet; Amanda Boner, Matt McGaffey, Stephen Trafton, Jossie Harland, Orion Lovegreen, Courtney Vandenburg, Ariel Tripses, Michael Hershberger, and Austin Slabaugh.
Gary Curtis and 12 parents went along as bandaides for the day: Steve Mayer, Deb Mansfield, Brian Ball, Paula Buckwalter, Tracy Shryock, Michele Schintler, Cheryl Stimson, Jim and Chris Roberts, Laverda Knepp, Jennifer Bereford, and Tarin Allen.
Private teachers of some of the students are Luetta Ropp, Tammy Miller, Susan See, Melanie Leichty, Sheila Raim, Mary Neuman, Janine Rosine and Angela Lickiss.
In summing up the day, Mrs. Curtis said, "Ratings are the statistics we use to record success, but there is so much more to the contest experience than a Roman numeral. The students all improve so much as musicians from November through February as they work on perfecting their individual pieces. They work hard, knowing they will be playing for an expert who has a copy of their music in front of them. They get comments on what they did well and how to improve. For many, learning to announce themselves and bow - stage presence - is more of a challenge than playing their instruments."
Commenting on her 31 years at Mid-Prairie, Mrs. Curtis said, "It has been a pleasure teaching in a community that is so supportive of the arts in general and music specifically. Every child, no matter what ability they're born with, can experience some degree of success and enjoyment from the arts. The arts are what make our lives rich. They are what define us as a people and nation. Mid-Prairie has always stood for excellence in education and has always seen the arts as part of that excellence. Hopefully, the belief that every child deserves early, quality instruction in music, visual art, and drama will remain strong for years to come. I want to have plenty of awesome concerts and plays to attend in my retirement and see examples of student's art around our community."
