Student musicians picked as best in state

by Daily Inter Lake
| August 31, 2011 7:00 PM

Thirty-three Kalispell students have been selected for the 2011 Montana All-State Music Festival.

The students submitted audition recordings in June and were chosen for the all-state band, choir or orchestra.

The festival, which takes place in Billings in October, will bring together student musicians from all over the state to perform under the direction of a nationally known director.

Glacier orchestra musicians include Angela Merrill (viola), Christian Diaz (violin), Brianna Larson (violin) and Julia Cecil (violin). Katie Weed (cello) is the lone Flathead orchestra student chosen to play at the All-State Music Festival.

Four Glacier band students will play at the festival: Andy Walling (clarinet), Dane Bjornrud (percussion), Dani Crandell (clarinet) and Audrey Sullivan (flute).

Flathead all-state band students are Laura Johnson (bassoon), Ellie Lapp (clarinet), Barrie Sugarman (flute), John Zorn (percussion) and Clyde Lisle (percussion).

Nineteen choir students will sing in the all-state choir. Glacier singers are Jessica Mount (soprano), Elizabeth Graham (soprano), Alexa Cote (alto), Kandrick Lee (tenor), Kyle Montgomery (bass) and Jordan Bridwell (bass).

Flathead singers are Annie Marshall (soprano), Jessica Helder (soprano), Anna Stone (soprano), Caitlyn Christiansen (alto), Kristi Persinger (alto), McKenna Wilson (alto), Tresa Reddig (alto), Bryant Plympton (tenor), Daniel Robison (tenor), Steven Johnson (tenor), Jon Weatherly (bass), Jake Williams (bass) and Derek Balcom (bass).