Thanksgiving weekend was a special time for 26 Kansas high school musicians as they took part in the NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles (ANHE) at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Students who represent the ANHE are among the top performing high school musicians in the United States. So much more than a musical ensemble; it is a comprehensive, musical and educational experience.
The ensembles met at the Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida under the baton of leaders in the field of music education. The NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles included a jazz ensemble, mixed choir, symphony orchestra, concert band, and (new this year) a guitar ensemble. Student representation from Kansas included six members in the symphony orchestra as well as ten members each in the band and mixed choir. The honorees include:
All-National Honor Band
Tom, Fabing, Gardner Edgerton Highschool – Percussion
Spencer Wittkorn, Hays High School – Percussion
*Nathan Enns, Inman High School – Trumpet
Benjamin Hopkins, McPherson High School – Tuba
Jeremy Kuehnen, Olathe South High School – Horn
*Rose Muldoon, Blue Valley North High School – Flute
*Ben Mullinnix, Blue Valley High School – Contrabass Clarinet
Caroline Schmidt, Shawnee Mission West High School, Clarinet
*Charles (Trey) Werr, Blue Valley High School – Bass Clarinet
Makayla Webster, Rose Hill High School – Bass Trombone
All-National Mixed Choir
*Megan McCoy, Andale High School – Alto 1
Hunter Spicer, Chaparral High School – Tenor 2
Mariah Litton, Ingalls High School – Alto 2
Gavin Jones, Lawrence High School – Bass 1
Alexander Aramouni, Manhattan High School – Tenor 1
*Levi West, Blue Valley Southwest High School – Bass 1
*Paul Cabili, Topeka High School – Tenor 2
*Amber Schmidt, Topeka High School – Alto 1
Madison Brokar, Wichita Heights High School – Soprano 2
Noah Thompson, Wichita Heights High School – Tenor 1
All-National Symphony Orchestra
Helena All, Lawrence Free State High School – Viola
Sarah Smith, Maize High School – Cello
Shulammite Lim, Olathe North High School – Violin
Hannah Goldberg, Olathe East High School – Violin
Hannah Thurlby, Blue Valley Northwest – Oboe
*Angela Jiang, Blue Valley High School – Violin
* Notes the student is a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
The ensembles were led by nationally known conductors. Dr. T. André Feagin, Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music, Coastal Carolina University led the concert band, Dr. Margery Deutsch, Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee led the symphony orchestra, Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, Professor of Music and Director of Choral/Vocal Studies, Oklahoma State University led the mixed choir, and the jazz ensemble was led by Todd Stoll, Vice President of Education, Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Plans are already under way for the next All-National Honor Ensembles, to be held once again at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, FL November 25-28, 2018. Students who are interested in auditioning must be in grades 9, 10 or 11 during the 2017-2018 school year, must be accepted to their state’s 2017-2018 All-State Honor Ensembles, and be a member of his or her school’s choral, string, guitar, or instrumental ensemble during the 2018-2019 school year corresponding with the ensemble for which application is made. The student’s ensemble director must also be a current member of NAfME. Applications open on January 12, 2018 and close on May 4, 2018 at 9:00 PM ET. If you have questions, you may direct them to HonorEnsembles@nafme.org.
