Express the Music

The 12th Annual Awards Ceremony for the Express the Music Competition was held on Wednesday, April 30 at Powell Hall. Thank you to the Employees Community Fund of Boeing St. Louis for sponsoring this year’s program. We were pleased to have Dr. Flint W. Fowler, Executive Director of the Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club, as Master of Ceremonies for the program. Laura Coughlin, Board Member for the Employees Community Fund and Dianna Haskell, Clarinetist with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, presented certificates of merit to all 60 finalists and certificates and monetary awards to the top winners.

This year’s musical selection was Bolero, by Maurice Ravel. Nearly 1,400 entries were received from 55 area junior and senior high schools and homeschools. A preliminary screening by the Express the Music committee selected the 60 finalists, 35 in the Junior Division (Grades 6-9), and 25 in the Senior Division (Grades 10-12), and then a panel of four distinguished judges chose the top three winners in each Division. This year’s final judges were: Harry Levins, retired senior writer, columnist, and chief copy editor and current book reviewer with the St. Louis Post Dispatch; Carolyn Reidy, Development Communications Manager for the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra; Diane Scollay, Director, Gateway Writing Project from the University of Missouri–St. Louis; and George Stern, active community volunteer.

(click image for larger version)

Front Row - from left to right:
Diana Haskell – Clarinetist, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra – Award Presenter
Laura Coughlin – Representative from the Employees Community Fund of Boeing St. Louis –Sponsor for Express the Music – Award Presenter
Leslie Davis –1st place winner Senior Division – received $500
Loren Barnes – 3rd place winner Senior Division – received $250
Brynne Frauenhoffer – 2nd place winner Senior Division – received $100
Jordan Yanker – 1st place winner Junior Division – received $250
Brenna Kizer – 2nd place winner Junior Division – received $150
Ann Acklen Brown – 3rd place winner Junior Division – received $75
Margaret Scott – Specially recognized member of the Symphony Volunteer Association
Dr. Flint Fowler – Executive Director, Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club – Master of Ceremonies

The winning students and their essays:

SENIOR DIVISION

First Place:
Leslie Davis (read essay)
Parkway North High School
Creve Coeur, MO

Second Place:
Brynne Frauenhoffer (read essay)
Eureka Sr. High School
Wildwood, MO

Third Place:
Loren Barnes (read essay)
Parkway North High School
Creve Coeur, MO

JUNIOR DIVISION

First Place:
Jordan Yanker (read essay)
Robert H. Sperreng Middle School
St. Louis, MO

Second Place:
Brenna Kizer (read essay)
Robert H. Sperreng Middle School
St. Louis, MO

Third Place:
Ann Acklen Brown (read essay)
Our Lady of Lourdes School
University City, MO

 

Congratulations to all the winners!