Thirty students from the MCHS Choral Department participated - and eight of them will move on to the ISSMA State Solo and Ensemble Competition at Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis later this month. Those students are Brooklynn Wade, Makalinn Jenks, Paige Merrill, Emma Abraham, Naomi Williams, Madison Gresham, Hannah Parker, and Aaverie Wingard.

During the regional event held on February 4, an ensemble composed of Merrill, Abraham, Williams, Gresham, Parker, and Wingard received a gold rating.

Other MCHS ensembles that received a gold rating included: Talia Lemons, Chyann Brown, Alyssa Tracy, Nia West, and Avery Campos; as well as an ensemble of Paige Merrill, Ashlynn Bright, Jasmine Ford, Alex Rancatore, and Carter Joseph.

Gold-rated solo performances by MCHS students included Carter Joseph, Chyann Brown, Giscelle Craigen, Jennifer Serrano, Justice Hansen, Justin Wilson, Nia West, Summer Mannella, Alyssa Workman, Madelyn Parry, Naomi Williams, Paige Merrill, Younha Seppyes, Brooklynn Wade, and Makalinn Jenks.

MCHS students receiving silver in solo performances were Kyla Mashburn and Madison Gresham.

MCAS middle school students also took part in the ISSMA contest. Krueger Middle School students Allen Tillman, Kellie Jordan, Stefany Lopez, and Arianna Latourette all received gold ratings; Andrea Roberts and Jaslyn Chalmers were rated silver.

Barker Middle School participants included Meerub Iftikhar, Ralph Smith, Zianna Moolenaar, and Za’Nia Mann, each receiving gold; Ash Batchelor and Brooklyn Martin received silver ratings.

Pine Elementary School had five students participate with all five receiving gold ratings: Lillian Whittenburg, Mariyha Spears, Naomi Canniff, Vinnie Dillard, and Harper Willis. Willis was also rated gold for her piano solo.

Michigan City Area Schools choral teachers Michelle Howisen, Shirley Allen, Stephanie Sobecki, and Jeanne Bolen attended the February ISSMA competition with the students and helped them prepare.