mcj

McPherson Musicians Excel at Regional Honor Ensemble Auditions

Twelve choir students, nine band members earn spots in prestigious South Central KMEA ensembles

Molli Fawl

12 Nov 2025 • 2 min read

McPherson High School music students delivered an outstanding performance at the South Central Kansas Music Educators Association Honor Ensemble Auditions, with 22 students earning spots in district honor ensembles. Nearly 1,500 high school musicians from approximately 70 area schools, ranging from 1A to 6A classifications, competed for the prestigious positions during auditions held this past weekend.

Students faced rigorous audition requirements, performing before blind panels of adjudicators who evaluated their performances using the statewide KMEA rubric. Choir students prepared challenging excerpts from Pablo Casals' "O Vos Omnes," Andrea Ramsey's "Hope Lingers On," and Stacey Gibbs' "Rock-a My Soul," while band and orchestra students tackled state-required literature, major scales, and sight-reading challenges. Adjudicators scored performances based on tone, intonation, rhythmic and pitch accuracy, dynamics, and overall musicianship.

Twelve McPherson students earned spots in the District Honor Choir: ChesLea Allison, Dawson Elliott, Raygan Groote, Allison Henry, Ava Miller, Maya Perry, Danae Paine, Aurelia Potter, Layla Rank, Reesa Whorton, and Ava Youngblood. Nine students were selected for the 1A-4A District Honor Band: Avery Eveland, Brynn Littlejohn, Gianna Bedoff, Cooper Bohme, RJ McDonald, Bennett Rank, Dylan Bruce, and Keaton Crane. Lillian Kahle earned a place in the District Honor Orchestra. The selected students will perform with their respective ensembles on December 6 in Maize, Kansas, and remain eligible for All-State Ensemble consideration, the highest musical honor for Kansas high school musicians.