Josie Kropfl – Mustangs Ahead
(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – Lakewood Ranch High School’s (LRHS) musicians have been performing successfully these past few weeks.
The band performed on March 16 at the Florida Bandmasters Association State Jazz, Auxiliary, and Solo/Ensemble Music Performance Assessment at Matanzas High School.
They brought five soloists who were exceptionally noted, and each brought home an award.
Freshman Abby Wilkerson on the bassoon, sophomore Kaitlyn Wolfe on the flute, and sophomore Norah Hoyt on the tenor saxophone were awarded with the State Superior-rated Solos. Furthermore, senior Shannon Schroder on the baritone and sophomore Abigail Flanigan on the bari-saxophone were both recognized as State Excellent-rated Soloist.
The band, additionally, brought four ensembles who each took home an award.
The two-State Superior-rated Ensemble was awarded to Mustangs Luke Pereira and Shannon Schroder’s trombone duet, as well as Dominic Caporaso, Pereira, Marc Romero, and Schroder’s tuba quartet. The Two-State Excellent-rated Ensembles was awarded to Mustangs Wolfe and Ashlyn Withers’s flute duet, as well as Colt Smith and Adian Williamson’s percussion duet.
Furthermore, the LRHS Jazz Band 1 and Auxiliary earned straight Excellent Ratings for their performances.
LRHS Band Director Dr. John Wilkerson noted how “extremely proud” he is of them and “their hardworking dedication to qualify for those events, and to represent Lakewood Ranch, themselves, their families, and this community.”
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Five orchestra students participated in the state level solo music performance assessment in Lakeland over the last weekend in March. Their outstanding presentations qualified them for state level competitions.
Senior Sage Alcorn on the viola and freshman Preston Stanoch on the violin both won superior ratings, freshman Stella Percoco on the violin won an excellent rating, and senior Montana Romine on the cello as well as junior Caroline Bartlomiejczuk on the violin won good ratings.
This marks an exciting accomplishment for the orchestra program.
Last, but not least, the band program had an “extraordinary week” according to Wilkerson. To start, they performed well at the Gulf Coast Honor Band Audition. All 21 participants made up the second most students in all, and the most participants from Manatee County.
On April 3, the LRHS Color Guard took home fourth place in the National Independent, a Winter Guard Class at the Florida Federation Color Guard Circuit State Championships.
Exceptionally, Genevieve Sammons was awarded the FFCC Martha Stark Memorial Scholarship, which marks her as the first FFCC scholarship recipient in LRHS history.
And lastly, on April 4, the Indoor Percussion took home the Bronze Medal (third) Place in the National Independent, an Indoor Percussion Class at the Florida Federation Color Guard Circuit State Championships.