Local student musicians perform at recital

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

More than 50 high school musicians put their talents on display during the 15th annual Van Wert County Young Artists Showcase held Sunday afternoon in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church in Van Wert.

The event, which was formerly called the Young Artists Recital, has been sponsored by The Van Wert County Foundation since its inception in 2003. Those performing included individual soloists, both vocal and instrumental, and a number of vocal and instrumental ensembles.

Paul Hoverman, coordinator of performing arts for the county foundation, welcomed a large crowd of parents and others who braved the not-so-nice weather to come out and hear the young musicians perform.

Those performing included the Van Wert Brass Choir (Michaella Johnson, Madeline McKeddie, Jacob Trejo, Levi Newell, Rachel Spath, Aeris Blakely, Lexie Walker, Natalie Schreiber, Max Laney, Sam Cassidy, Erin Richardson, and Kendall Rauch), the Van Wert Scherzo Quartet (Steele Stabler, Kaylee Jennings, Kayla Papke, and Evelyn McKeddie), the Lincolnview Men’s Vocal Ensemble (Jared Rusk, Joe Sadowski, Jerron Taylor, Devon Bill, Gavin Carter, Brad Korte, Noah Baldwin, and Drew Motycka), trombonist Jordan Updegrove of Lincolnview, vocalist Alisha Terhark of Van Wert, pianist Rebekah Fast of Van Wert, the Van Wert Woodwind Trio (Jennings, Jamie Burenga, and Makenzie Bowers), marimba player Hatti Bouillon of Lincolnview, vocalist Gabrielle Emerick of Van Wert, flutist Jackie Sroufe of Van Wert, vocalist Korey Oechsle of Van Wert, the Lincolnview Mixed Vocal Ensemble (Lainie Jones, Madison Glossett, Alana Williams, Tori Boyd, Jayna Roberts, Sadowski, Taylor, Thad Walker, Noah Daeger, Korte, Braxten Robey, and Cameron McAbee).

Also, the Van Wert Brass Quintet (Johnson, Madeline McKeddie, Blakely, Walker, and Richardson), vocalist Lainie Jones of Lincolnview, clarinetist Hannah Bouillon of Crestview, vocalist Tabitha Howell of Van Wert, home-schooled pianist Elissa Miglin, flutist Bethany Martinez of Lincolnview, the Lincolnview Select Vocal Ensemble (Jones, Kaitlyn Brenneman, Williams, Carey, Kayla Schimmoeller, and Alena Looser), vocalist Miah Katalenas of Lincolnview, clarinetist Steele Stabler of Van Wert, and vocalist Anna Reichert of Van Wert.

All of the local musicians who participated also were involved in the Ohio Music Education Association’s solo and ensemble contests held this year at St. Marys Memorial High School.

Accompanists for a number of the performers included Marilyn Alessandrini, Dee Fisher, Annette Hoverman, Harriet Schaadt, and David Vantilburg.

Participating teachers include Danille Hancock and Jason Lozer of Crestview, Tina Decker, Julia Reichert, and Robert Sloan of Van Wert, Anna Baker and Stacie Korte of Lincolnview, and private teachers Fisher, Hoverman, and Vantilburg.

Hoverman and Sloan rearranged chairs and music stands as necessary during the performance and a reception was held following the event for those who performed and attended.