Senator Square: Senator singers, musicians prove their mettle

We had 15 students selected to the All State Choir, four to the All State Band via audition. I know for the choir, nearly 500 students auditioned statewide and only 150 are selected for choir and 50 for the band.

These are the student selected:

Nidsa Mouritsen " choir

Sarah Irvin " choir

Brynn Garrett " choir

Shaolin Gates " choir

Megan Nelson " choir

Jen Lombardo " choir

Dakota Dutcher " choir

Josh Wold " choir

Jake Linstrom " choir

Nick Hummel " choir

Brian Lester " choir

Philip Wortman " choir

Michael Smith " choir

Lu Vang " choir

CJ Bower " choir

Rachel Thorsen " band

CJ Bower " band

Cody McDaniel " band

Stephanie Dodge " band

All these students will participate in the Nevada All State Band and Choir in April in Las Vegas.

Then, this weekend, we had the regional Solo and Ensemble contest (they compete for the state titles at the same conference as All State Choir/Band). Students from CHS won the following categories and will go on to the state finals in April in Las Vegas.

- Outstanding Female Vocal, Solo " Sarah Irvin (Pie Jesu from Faure's Requiem)

- Outstanding Female Vocal, Solo " Jackie Reichelt (O Mio Babbino Caro from Puccini's opera Gianni Schicci)

- Outstanding Male Vocal, Solo " Philip Wortman (But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming? " from Handel's Messiah)

- Outstanding Female Ensemble " Kenni Kinsey, Victoria Lauder, Melissa James, Lindsey Burroughs, Alyssa Friend, Jackie Reichelt, Erin Etcheverria, Monica Ricketts, Chelsea Fenn, Shaolin Gates, Brynn Garrett, Jen Lombardo (A Shepherd in a Shade " John Dowland)

- Outstanding Male Ensemble " Dakota Dutcher, Josh Wold, Chris Wortman, Nick Hummel, Brian Lester, Michael Smith, Lu Vang, Jake Linstrom, Jacob Sneddon (The Awakening " J. Martin), Conducted by Philip Wortman. This is Philip's senior project and has been entirely student directed, rehearsed and put together by him.

- Outstanding Piano Solo " Nidsa Mouritsen (Fantasia in D minor-Mozart)

- Outstanding Clarinet Solo " CJ Bower (Concerto for Clarinet-Mozart)

- Outstanding Percussion Solo " Elizabeth White (Rondino)

- Outstanding Brass Ensemble " Bud Snoke, Cody McDaniel, Lu Vang, Michael Smith (Pink Elephants on Parade)

- Outstanding Brass Solo " Josh Tucker (Andante et Allegro)

- A total of 32 students will be participating in the All State Music Festival either as a soloist, ensemble member or as part of the honor band or choir April 15-18 in Las Vegas. This is a record number for Carson High School, and we are currently the most represented school in the state outside of Clark County.

- Susan Sonnemaker is a choir teacher at Carson High School and member of Senator Pride.