WABASH, IN – The Wabash Valley Music Association’s (WVMA) Honors Band & Choir marked its 49th
year with its performance on Friday, March 10, 2023 at the Honeywell Center.
The Honors Band & Choir Concert uplifts the musical and artistic talent of high school students in
Wabash County. The most talented high school musicians and vocalists were brought together to present
a public concert. Students from Northfield, Southwood, Wabash, and Manchester High Schools spent
weeks rehearsing for the performance that showcased the tremendous amount of young talent in the
area. This concert allowed students who have excelled in music education to work and perform with
professional guest conductors and directors. The experience broadened the students’ experience and
allowed them to see how different music leaders work and convey their expectations. As an offering of
Honeywell Arts & Entertainment, WVMA provides artistic exposure and enrichment for area students
through this program.
Band students were conducted by Dr. Daniel Tembras. Choral students performed under the direction of
Dr. Madlen Batchvarova. Honors Band students performed selections of “American Riversongs” by
Pierre La Plante, “Benediction” by John Stevens, “Chasing Sunlight” by Cait Nishimura, “Freischutz
Quickstep” by Claudio Grafulla, arranged by Tommy J. Fry. Honors Choir students, accompanist Judy
Ward, performed selections of “Come to the Music” by Joseph Martin, “Ave verum corpus” (Latin) by
Wolfgang A. Mozart, “The Music of Living” by Dan Forrest, “Tebe poem” (Bulgarian chant) by Dobri
Hristov, and “Arirang” (Korean folk song) arranged by Hyo-Won Woo. Honors Band & Choir students
performed together “From Sea to Shining Sea” by Samuel Ward.
Manchester Community Schools
Jeff Huber, Band Director; Sharon Lehman, Choir Director
Metropolitan School District of Wabash County
Northfield High School: Todd Ward, Band Director; Matt Johnston, Choir Director
Southwood High School: Lindsay Knee, Band and Choir Director
Wabash City Schools
Kaitlyn Whinery, Band Director; Mark Nevil, Choir Director
Program
Master of Ceremonies Doug Lehman, WVMA Board President
Narrator Mike Keaffaber, MSD Superintendent
Awards Announcer Susan Jones
Event Coordinators Susan Keefer and Chris Hickman
Four Year Participant Award
Dakota Wilson, Southwood High School; Honors Band
Sara Buga, Wabash High School; Honors Band
Hailey Barton, Northfield High School; Honors Band
Alice Guyer, Southwood High School; Honors Band
Morgan Butcher, Wabash High School; Honors Choir
Addie France, Northfield High School; Honors Choir
Katelyn Ranck, Southwood High School; Honors Choir
Participating students in the Honors Band included:
Flute
Thomas Fritter, Wabash High School
Calista Larrowe, Wabash High School
Emilee Manns, Manchester High School
Kaylee Nelson, Southwood High School
Anna Todd, Manchester High School
Dakota Wilson, Southwood High School
Bassoon
Diego Myers, Manchester High School
Clarinet
Olivia Chavez, Manchester High School
Malia Mahan, Southwood High School
McKenzie Moorman, Southwood High School
Emily Rehak, Northfield High School
Landon Shouse, Northfield High School
Lyndzy Silvers, Southwood High School
Olivia Snow, Southwood High School
Bass Clarinet
Breanna Callaway, Manchester High School
Megan Davis, Southwood High School
Alto Saxophone
Sara Buga, Wabash High School
Kalli Davis, Wabash High School
Nicholas Ewing, Wabash High School
Claire Thompson, Northfield High School
Hannah Trout, Manchester High School
Sophia Willey, Manchester High School
Tenor Saxophone
Hailey Barton, Northfield High School
Antonio Jimenez, Manchester High School
Ethan Lochard, Southwood High School
Sloane Willey, Manchester High School
Baritone Saxophone
John Roth, Manchester High School
Trumpet
Isaiah Beall, Northfield High School
Naomi Davis, Southwood High School
Madison Griffin, Northfield High School
Xavier Hughes, Wabash High School
Kennedy James, Manchester High School
Melanie McGuire, Manchester High School
Ethyn Sluss, Wabash High School
Turner Stephens, Northfield High School
Trombone
Tala Lynn, Wabash High School
Jordyn Neff, Manchester High School
Baritone
Eligah Brown, Wabash High School
Cello
John Nesler, Northfield High School
Tuba
Logan Shellhamer, Southwood High School
Percussion
Dakota Castro, Wabash High School
Alice Guyer, Southwood High School
James Griffey, Northfield High School
Natalee Keller, Northfield High School
Kristian Stanton, Wabash High School
Participating students in the Honors Choir included:
Wyatt Barton, Northfield High School
Burton Black, Northfield High School
Sara Buga, Wabash High School
Morgan Butcher, Wabash High School
Trinity Dalton, Wabash High School
Emily Dotson, Manchester High School
Eli Edmond, Wabash High School
Alesha Edwards, Manchester High School
Maddox Elzy, Southwood High School
Addie France, Northfield High School
Mollie Friend, Wabash High School
Payton Hamby, Manchester High School
Anna Hodson, Northfield High School
Kaitlyn Holley, Manchester High School
Braylon Judy, Manchester High School
Kaelynn Kamp, Manchester High School
Drake King, Northfield High School
Fritz Kirk, Southwood High School
Ayriana LeBaron, Northfield High School
Aaliysha Mackey, Northfield High School
Hope Martin, Manchester High School
Paulette Martin, Manchester High School
Skye McCullough, Manchester High School
Jiaye Myers, Manchester High School
Matthew Niles, Wabash High School
Meryn Norman, Southwood High School
Maggie Onderko-White, Manchester High School
Kasen Oswalt, Wabash High School
Gavin Palmer, Wabash High School
Libee Price, Southwood High School
Zaria Pries, Southwood High School
Katelyn Ranck, Southwood High School
Lauryn Reichenbach, Manchester High School
Xander Rose, Wabash High School
Brett (Bobby) Shull, Wabash High School
Paloma Shull, Wabash High School
Lyndzy Silvers, Southwood High School
Zach Simpson, Wabash High School
Sarah Smith, Southwood High School
Duke Sparks, Southwood High School
Celeste Spaulding-Price, Manchester High School
Jared Stevens, Wabash High School
Miriam Struble-Hedstrom, Manchester High School
Anna Todd, Manchester High School
Lexi Walters, Wabash High School
In celebration of the Honors Band & Choir 50th Anniversary taking place in 2024, Honeywell Arts &
Entertainment is collecting information, stories, and memories from alumni, including students, directors,
coordinators, accompanists, and school administrators. Please visit honeywellarts.org/honors-survey to
learn more.
