(1-19-26) Wapakoneta Band members who performed yesterday at the OMEA District 3 High School Honors Festival.
Honors Band – Ella Ridenour, Gunner Daugherty, Ike Mosler, Arianna Miller, Gavin Hilleary, Zoey Schlenker, Landen Bacon, Carson Huber and Eli Mosler.
Honors Jazz Band – Landen Bacon and Gavin Hilleary.
Landen Bacon on received one of the Bob & Boyd Loughrige Scholarships that were awarded today.
New Knoxville’s Jude Holland played in the OMEA District 3 Honors Concert Band this afternoon at Van Wert High School.
This ensemble is filled with excellent musicians from many local schools.
St. Marys Choir members participated.
Band Students from Minster –
- Evelyn Hanson – Flute
- Lauren Heitkamp – Clarinet
- Jessie Blanco – Clarinet
- Emma Dysert- Clarinet
- Chloe Ranly – Clarinet
- Ariana Hernandez – Contra Bass Clarinet
- Tara Rindler – Trumpet
- Maria Niekamp – Trombone
- Chance Hagaman – Trombone
- Reese Beair – Percussion
- Kalli Bergman – Percussion
ChatGPT Summary
The OMEA District 3 High School Honors Festival is a music event organized by the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) for high school students in District 3 of Ohio. It brings together talented instrumentalists, vocalists, and often jazz musicians from schools in that region who have been selected by audition to participate in a collaborative honors ensemble.
🎵 What the Festival Is
Honors Festival: A band, choir, and jazz festival for high school students who earn selection through an audition process. Purpose: To offer a rich educational and performance experience where students rehearse under skilled conductors and perform together in a concert setting. Selection: Students submit audition materials and are chosen based on musical ability; only a portion of auditions are accepted into the festival ensembles each year.
🎼 Typical Components
Auditions: Students audition with prepared music and/or excerpts. The audition process and deadline details are usually announced in advance. Rehearsals: Once selected, participants attend rehearsals (often over one or two days) to prepare for the final performance. Performance: The festival culminates in a concert featuring the honors band, choir, and sometimes jazz ensemble conducted by guest music educators.
📌 (2025–26 Festival)
Festival Concert: For the 2025–2026 school year, the festival concert was scheduled for Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Van Wert, Ohio. Guest conductors included the OMEA President for band and a university-level conductor for choir. Over 200 students were accepted out of more than 426 auditionees.
Summary
The OMEA District 3 High School Honors Festival is an annual, audition-based music festival that provides a meaningful performance and learning opportunity for high school musicians in District 3 of Ohio. It emphasizes collaboration, high-level ensemble performance, and musical growth under expert leadership.
Mercer County Outlook 