VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Valley City High School Music Department announced their annual Instrumental Awards. The awards are normally presented at the spring instrumental “ Jazzin’ “ concert but due to the Covid-19 pandemic this year the concert was cancelled.
Annual instrumental awards at VCHS include ND All-State Band recognitions, Outstanding Instrumentalist Awards, the Sempre Fidelis Marine Award and the John Philip Sousa Award.
Band Teacher Tom Kjelland said two Valley City band students auditioned for and were selected to participate in the North Dakota High School All-State Band. This honor is the highest honor a band student can receive in high school as a result of auditioning against all of the best musicians in their respective band sections in the entire state. Theodore Herzog was selected as 1 of only 8 percussionists from across the entire state to be chosen. Owen Plagens was selected 1 of only 9 trombonists from across the entire state to be chosen. VCHS is proud of these two ND All-State musicians.
The VCHS Outstanding Instrumentalist Award is earned by the band students for accumulating points for participating in extra band activities not involved with class or graded in class. It is for extra participation above and beyond regular class activities such as Jazz Band, EDC contests, Christmas caroling, honor bands, International Music Camp, instrument specific workshops, etc. When 30 points or 40 points (depending on the circumstance) are accumulated the student earns an Outstanding Instrumentalist Award.
The 2019-2020 Outstanding Instrumentalists are: Sophia Boe, Presley Curtis, Hailey Thoreson, James Burk, Avery Suhr, Tucker Schonert, Heather Fischer, Daniel Wintch, Alexa Kjelland, Owen Plagens, Luke Plagens, Trevan Pfennig, Samantha Nelson, Makaelyn Lorenz, Alexis Triebold, Alexa Klein, Buddy Scherr, Allysen Mathias, Jonathan Redfearn, Jessica Undem, Theodore Herzog, Britta Roehrich and Camryn Sundlie.
The two most coveted awards for the band are the US Marine Sempre Fidelis award for leadership and the John Philip Sousa award for musicianship. Both of these awards are voted on by the band members after a nomination process that selected the finalists. The awards are recognition by the peers of the award winners.
The 2019-2020 United States Marine Sempre Fidelis award for leadership is presented to Allysen Mathias, trumpet player, jazz band and student director for the VCHS Concert Band.
The 2019-2020 John Philip Sousa Award for musicianship is presented to Theodore Herzog, percussionist, Outstanding Performer and state star at EDC regional solo contest, rehearsal leader and state star at EDC ensemble contest and All-State Band selection.
Congratulations to all of the award winners for the 2019-2020 Valley City High School Instrumental year.
Valley City Public School Band Teacher Tom Kjelland.
The feature photo is Valley City High School Senior Allysen Mathias.