Several of Wawasee Community School Corporation’s string orchestra students braved the weather Saturday to participate at Goshen Middle School in ISSMA’s district solo and ensemble contest.

Receiving gold medals for their violin solos from Milford Middle School were seventh-graders, Kaitlin Graber and Mercedes Winkelman, and eighth-graders, Adriene Gill and Amy Beer.

A sixth grade viola trio from Wawasee Middle School also received gold medals. Their members were Shelby Bolt, Reana Kunkle and Robert Sopher.

Participating in the contest from the Wawasee High School orchestra was senior Dorinda Brito, who received a gold medal for her violin solo. Junior Ashley Larson received a silver medal for her violin solo. Junior Carly Erst performed a violin solo from the division one category and received a gold medal, qualifying her to advance to the state ISSMA solo and ensemble competition in Indianapolis March 1. Erst and Larson, together with freshman violist Sophie Miller, received a gold medal for their ensemble performance of Mike Nelson’s “Mechanical Ferret Suite.”