SYRACUSE — Relatively mild temperatures were welcome after last week’s sub-zero weather as students of the Wawasee Community School Corporation orchestra programs traveled to NorthWood High School in Nappanee Saturday, Feb. 2, to participate in the Indiana Secondary School Music Association solo and ensemble competition. The annual event, held in multiple locations around the state, give music students the opportunity to perform solos and ensembles for highly qualified music adjudicators, who give them feedback and award medals based on the students’ level of achievement.

The orchestra students from Wawasee were well represented. From Milford Middle School, soloist Josalyn Kolberg (viola) received a gold medal. From Wawasee Middle School, Allison Clark was awarded a gold medal on her violin solo, as well as receiving gold medals on cello in a couple of trios. The violinists in one trio were eighth-graders Rylee Firestone and Izabelle Losee; and in the other trio, seventh-graders Jessica Griffith and Adaline Hayes.

Several orchestra students at Wawasee High School also participated in the competition this year. There was one ensemble of violinists Tess Helfers, Norah Miller and Georgia Wise, which received a gold medal. Five violin soloists also performed: sophomore Georgia Wise receiving a silver medal; juniors Cassidy Cannon, Kasey Gunkel, and Sydney Jaggers receiving gold; and senior Kaitlin Graber, who received a gold medal on her division one solo and will move on to state ISSMA competition in Indianapolis Feb. 23.