St. Anthony Honors Band Award Winners

(McKENNA STEINEMAN WITH BAND DIRECTOR CHRISTY CYRUS)

St. Anthony High School Band Director Christy Cyrus recognized students from both St. Anthony Grade School and St. Anthony High School following the end-of-year band concert.

The junior high students participating in the IESA Solo & Ensemble Contests all received first-place ratings and included the following students: Mason Bloemer - saxophone solo; Mason Bloemer, Kevin Canalez-Gonzales, Griffen Elder, and George Scheidemantel - instrument quartet; Maggie Brocker Wright and Joanna Mitchell - flute/clarinet duet; Maggie Brocker Wright - flute solo; Ivan Daiber - trombone solo; James Emmerich - trumpet solo; Elliot Frisbie - saxophone solo; Joanna Mitchell - clarinet solo; Joanna Mitchell, Andrea Rudolphi, Grace Walker, Conner Walton, and Anna Zaccari - percussion ensemble; Andrea Rudolphi - saxophone solo; Bridget Sudkamp - trombone solo; and Anna Zaccari - clarinet solo.

In addition to the Solo & Ensemble awards, several students were recognized for being selected to participate in the Frances Watt Johnston Junior High Honors Band. Those students in the Honor Band included Tyra Bednar (saxophone), Alex Ciorna (clarinet), Anthony Kreke (clarinet), and Bridget Sudkamp (trombone).

The high school students participating in the IHSA Solo & Ensemble Contests included Hanna DiBenedetto - bass clarinet solo with 2nd place; Claire Sudkamp - clarinet solo with 1st place; Carly Spraul - flute solo with 1st place; and McKenna Steineman - flute solo with 1st place. McKenna Steineman also received the Best of Day Award for her flute solo.

Additionally, McKenna Steineman was selected ILMEA All-State. To be selected for the ILMEA (Illinois Music Educator Association) All-State Band students have to complete an audition process. Those students who achieve the highest scores from around the state are then selected for the ILMEA All-State Bands. To be selected for the ensemble is the highest honor a high school musician can achieve.

Finally, McKenna Steineman also received the John Phillip Sousa Award for her participation in the St. Anthony High School Band. This award is the greatest achievement in a high school band. It recognizes superior musicianship and outstanding dedication.

St. Anthony of Padua Parish is a Catholic Church founded in 1858, with a congregation of more than 1300 families. One of the founding missions of St. Anthony parish included Catholic Education. Today, St. Anthony is the only preschool through grade 12 Catholic school system in downstate Illinois and educates an average of more than 550 students annually. More information can be found at www.stanthony.com.