Perrysburg High School’s Select Strings ensemble recently competed at the American String Teacher Association (ASTA) 2024 National Orchestra Festival and were named the 2024 ASTA Grand Champions. PHS Select Strings was 1 of just 12 high schools from across the country selected to compete this year.
“This is like winning a National Championship or Super Bowl but for high school orchestras,” shared Michael Smith, Ed.S., Orchestra Director, Perrysburg Schools. “It was an awesome experience for our students!”
Last year, PHS Select Strings submitted recordings, letters of recommendation and school district information to apply for the ASTA National Orchestra Festival. Two PHS Orchestras were accepted to participate. PHS Select Strings was accepted to compete in the ranking/competition track and PHS Symphony Strings in the comments only track.
PHS Select Strings performed a 50-minute concert for a panel of three national adjudicators. After the performance, the students received a one-hour clinic with an adjudicator. PHS Select Strings performed at the Grand Champions concert the next day for all the participating orchestras from all around the country.
While at the conference, students also attend workshops, string classes and clinics from professional musicians throughout the country. Students had an opportunity to listen to other selected high school orchestras perform as well as professional orchestras and ensembles.
Mr. Smith has participated two other times at ASTA with Perrysburg High School Orchestras, in 2016 and 2020, and finished in 3rd place both times. “Both experiences were incredible learning opportunities for the students,” shared Mr. Smith. “Winning the ASTA Grand Champion is one of the biggest accomplishments a high school orchestra can achieve.”
PHS Select Strings
Violin I
Raquel Burden - Concertmaster, NW Region Orchestra, All State Orchestra, Honors Orchestra
Allison Ludwig - NW Region Orchestra
Reina Wang - NW Region Orchestra
Moana Kitamura - Honors Orchestra
Anthony Clark
Kalista McPherson - NW Region Orchestra, All State Alternate
Nithya Rajan - NW Region Orchestra, Honors Orchestra
Cello
Patrick Martz - Principal, NW Region Orchestra, All State Orchestra
Julia Xi
Brandon Williams - NW Region Orchestra, All State Alternate
Jacob Xiao - NW Region Orchestra, All State Orchestra, Honors Orchestra
Jasper Kowalewski - NW Region Orchestra, All State Alternate
Hannah Muck
Violin II
Caleb Dworczyk - Principal
Maya Markham - NW Region Orchestra, Honors Orchestra
Emily Wilson - NW Region Orchestra
Hojune Kang
Agnishekhar Basu Sarkar - NW Region Orchestra, Honors Orchestra
Sophia Orlop, Honors Orchestra
Katelin Williams - NW Region Orchestra, Honors Orchestra
Ocean Shi
Bass
Claire Schroeder - Principal
Andrew Seiverth - NW Region Orchestra, All State Alternate
Viola
Anna Allen - Principal, NW Region Orchestra, All State Alternate, Honors Orchestra
Alexander Ban - NW Region Orchestra, All State Alternate
William Hollenbeck - NW Region Orchestra, All State Orchestra
Jack Hulbert - NW Region Orchestra, Honors Orchestra
Ricky Gardiner - NW Region Orchestra, Honors Orchestra
Dominic Ruiz - NW Region Orchestra, Honors Orchestra
Harp & Percussion
Patrick Chen - Principal, NW Region Orchestra, All State Orchestra