St. Andrew's Celebrates Performing Arts Achievements

The St. Andrew’s community recognized distinguished achievement in the performing arts on Thursday April 24th in an assembly that emphasized the school’s commitment to fostering students’ talent in areas involving vocal music, musical theatre, orchestral performance, dance, drama, jazz band, and technical theatre.

Performing Arts department chair Ritchie Porter (Drama) as well as his colleagues Jordan Yonce (Vocal Music), Anthony Harvey (Technical Theatre), Dr. Amy Wooley (Orchestra/Jazz Band) and Rachel Turner (Dance) presented students in both the middle and upper schools with awards that honored dedication to excellence in the performing arts among both newcomers to the arts as well as those who have contributed to the performing arts program at the school for, in some cases, the last seven years.

Porter in his opening remarks encouraged the assembled students to “Find your passion. Find your voice,” noting how the performing arts is a perfect vehicle by which all students could be creative as well as challenge themselves in a public way.

Besides the awards presented, the audience was treated to performances that included the Symphonic Rock Orchestra’s medley of the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love” and Guy Clark’s “Home Grown Tomatoes” arranged by Wooley. That was followed by the Upper School Spring Dance Company and their piece "This Woman's Work," music by Greg Laswell and choreographed by Turner. The A Capella Club then sang Bastille’s “Pompeii” arranged by Yonce. The Spring Improv class also did two pieces entitled “Hitchhikers” and “Hats”.

The award winners were:

SRO Concert Master - Rhys Steuart and Billy Weber

SRO MVP - Jacob White and LJ Jackson

SRO MV Rookie - Ben Wang and Marcel Wiedmaier

Jazz Band Student Director - Mackenzie Kynoch

Jazz Band MVP - Spencer Marks and Ben Greene

Jazz Band MV Rookie - Andrew Fullerton, Olivia Oosterhout and Eli Sibarium

SAES Show Band Student Director - Rhys Steuart

SAES Show Band MVP - Calee Hayes, Elizabeth Holland, Aaron Sibarium, and Chris Jung

SAES Show Band MV Rookie -Bridgette Kontner and Will Lucas

Choral Hat Trick Award - Andrew Honigman and Natalie Cohn

US Chorister of the Year - Cameron Mitchell

Underclassman Golden Mic Award - Amelia Heesen

Upperclassman Golden Mic Award - Billy Weber

Vocal Directors' Award - Billy Weber, Michael McMillen, and Michael McShane

MS Dance Class Award - Josh Margolis

MS Dance Leadership Award - Cameron Reeder

MS Dance MVP Award - Devin Lucas

US Dance Leadership Award - Weng Cheong

US Dance Choreography Award - Zsari Delaney

US Dance MVP Award - Alex Forman

US Dance Most Improved Award - Michael McShane

“Eighter” Award - Michael McMillen, Billy Weber, Rhys Steuart, Brian Bies

The Swansong Award - Tiffanie Snyder

“Oklahoma” Ensemble Award - Olivia Spaccasi

Physical Performance Skills Award - Nate Mosher

"Improv Award" - Richard Royle

"Middle School Drama Award" for outstanding work in the class - Roman Toepler

Also to be added are Cameron Mitchell for US Dance Company "Glue" Award -- and Devin Lucas -- MS Chorister of the Year.

“Oklahoma” Outstanding Contribution - Michael McMillen, Brian Bies, Jordan Reilly, Cameron Mitchell, Amelia Heesen, Michael McShane, Lionel Jackson, Billy Weber, and Tiffanie Snyder

Technical Theatre Awards - Russell Brunner, Leila Youssef, and Adam Tommer