Music to our ears: The Loquations, Nederland High School’s select choir, sings their last song of the evening. Above, right: Blue Garcia-Paine is awarded the National School Choral Award.[/caption]

This is the season of Spring concerts and end of the year awards at schools. Nederland Middle-Senior High School (NMSHS) had their end of the year choir concert and awards on May 8.

The school has four different choirs. They are the Rockin’ Chip Punks (6th grade choir), The Altitunes (7th and 8th Grade Choir), Festival Choir (High School Choir), and The Loquations (Select High School Choir).

Every choir sang two or three songs and showed off their talents as vocal musicians. The choirs are under the direction of Elizabeth Evans and, during this last semester, a student teacher from Metro State, Abigail Sheehan.

The concert showed a wide variety of music. There were some fun pieces, from one with no words, to one completely improvised, to The Loquations’ beautiful and emotional version of “What Was I Made For?” by Billie and Finneas Eilish.

The evening also included awards for students. Evans thanked all the students for their hours of dedication to the music department at NMSHS. She gave a special dedication to the seniors and their families for their years of commitment to the program.

Below are the 2024 NMSHS Music Department Awards.

Middle Level Band

Most Dedicated: Legend Teller and Jackson Watts

Hardest Worker: Myla Yoh

Most Improved: Tad Collins and Eli Friedlander

Most Inspirational: Gideon Livingston

High School Band

Most Dedicated: Amika Begin

Hardest Worker: Eva Wrobel

Most Improved: River Lemaster

Most Inspirational: Asher Hughes, Eric Thurston

6th Grade Choir

Most Dedicated: Annabelle Tomlinson

Hardest Worker: Emmeline Rosenblum

Most Improved: Isobel Moore

Most Inspirational: Nora Shurr, Shayna Siegal Gane

7th and 8th Grade Choir

Most Dedicated: Penny Bodnar, Eliza Moore

Hardest Worker: Ezra Baumhover

Most Improved: Libby Chandler, Codi Waldron

Most Inspirational: Ben Brodsky, Naima Bullings

That’s entertainment: The Nederland High School Festival Choir sings and dances to one of their songs.[/caption]

Festival Choir

Most Dedicated: Lola Kelley

Hardest Worker: Mars Gervais

Most Improved: Liam Robertson

Most Inspirational: Hazel Kelley

The Loquations

Most Dedicated: Sierra Tomlinson

Hardest Worker: Keahi Pelkum Donahue

Most Improved: Oskar Nunemacher

Most Inspirational: Blue Garcia-Paine

6th Grade Band

Most Dedicated: Alder Bradley

Hardest Worker: Jackson Bliss

Most Improved: Kale Mahorsky, Glori Howell

Most Inspirational: Ayla Dewart

6th Grade Orchestra

Most Dedicated: Skylar Dulude

Hardest Worker: Miles Frey

Most Improved: Miles Frey

Most Inspirational: Michael Wilson

Middle Level Orchestra

Most Dedicated: Evelyne Stanton

Hardest Worker: Olive Diaz

Most Improved: Misty Evanson and Oscar Lammers Van Toorenburg

Most Inspirational: Lucy Budde and Lilu Benson

High School Orchestra

Most Dedicated: Kai Murphy

Hardest Worker: Juniper Hall

Most Improved: Eliza Brundege

Most Inspirational: Perrine Breche, Lukey Mahorski-Bodley

National School Orchestra Award: Aeden Koziel

John Philip Sousa Award: Asher Hughes

National School Choral Award: Blue Garcia-Paine

Carnegie Hall Awards: Loquations

District Honor Orchestra: Eliza Brundege, Juniper Hall, Aeden Koziel, Clara Miller

Outstanding Musicians Awards

6th Grade: Asa Budde, Nora Shurr

7th Grade: Isla Harmon, Teddy Shaffer

8th Grade: Logan Hanley, Kyle King

Freshman: Lola Kelley, Hazel Kelley

Sophomore: Tyler Goodnow, Sierra Tomlinson

Junior: Keahi Pelkum Donahue, Amelie Bodnar, Laila Waldron

Senior: Asher Hughes, Blue Garcia-Paine

Letters and Pins 2024

Loquations:

Amelie Bodnar, Pin

Blue Garcia-Paine, Pin

Tyler Goodnow, Pin

Hayden Hardt-Zeman, Pin

Aya Pelkem Donahue, Pin

Polina Savich, Pin

Laila Waldron, Pin

Sierra Tomlinson, Pin

Jolie Turner, Pin

Oskar Nunemacher, Letter

Keahi Pelkum Donahue, Letter

High School Band:

Asher Hughes, Pin

Festival Choir:

Morgan Lake, Pin

Trinity Prahl, Pin

Mars Gervais, Letter

Hazel Kelley, Letter

Lola Kelley, Letter

Roonagh Mannion, Letter

Jace Thurston, Letter

High School Orchestra:

Aeden Koziel, Pin