The CHIEF May 2023

2023 Music Awards Night By: Hannah Ricketts

On May 2, 2023, we celebrated all music students for their hard work and dedication throughout the year. Mr. Gary Brunner, Athletic Director at PTHS, spoke about his experiences involved in both athletics and music during his time in high school. We wished him a happy retirement that night and gave our congratulations to him for creating an environment that is flexible for students in situations similar to his own. Every student received an award; however, a handful of students from each grade level were chosen for doing an exceptional job and showing great responsibility and work ethic. Starting with the freshmen, there was one outstanding student who earned both the Band and Choir awards, which was Madelynn Gramp. She plays the clarinet in Concert Band and is an alto in Treble Choir. Next, there were three sophomores awarded for their hard work this year: Jonathan Cassady, percussionist, received a Band award; Levi Rients, tuba player and baritone in Concert Choir, received recognition for outstanding achievement in both Band and Choir; Olivia Yedinak, soprano in concert choir, received a choir award. Similarly, there were also three juniors awarded for their hard work throughout the year: Colin Kristich, drum major, clarinet player in Symphonic Band, and singer for Concert Choir, received a Band award; Emma Reichardt, flute and piccolo player in Symphonic Band, and alto in Concert Choir, received both a Band and Choir award for outstanding achievement; and Emma Donze, flute player in Symphonic Band and soprano in concert choir, received an award for choir. Lastly, five seniors received recognition for their efforts and dedication to the PTHS music program: Caroline Paulson, euphonium player in Symphonic Band, received a Band award; Megan Henkel, clarinet player in Symphonic Band and alto in Concert Choir, received an award for both Band and Choir; Nicholas Pelletier, trombone player in Symphonic Band and tenor in Concert Choir, received an award for Choir; Glorianna Birkett, French horn player in Symphonic Band and alto in Concert Choir, received an award for Choir. Finally, Doralyn Lee, first chair trumpet in both Symphonic Band and Jazz Band, soloist in both Band and Choir, and soprano in Concert Choir, received both the John Philip Sousa Award and the National Choral Award. Congratulations to all music students for working hard all year and to those students recognized for their outstanding achievements throughout the year! As students at Pontiac Township High School know, the end of the school year is very close. This means that in the fall, many sports will begin starting, like football! With football season being here before we know it, Pontiac Marching Indians will soon be taking the field as well! After the recent completion of Color Guard tryouts, Color Guard went from having 14 girls on the team to 26 people! The returning Color Guard members are Summer Negray, Mickala Travis, Kalli Johnson, Olivia Edinger, Nevaeh Maroon, Hailee Bressner, Ashleigh Heath, Addison Hall, Mariah Wallace, Lily Fetgatter, Megan Wiechmann, and Addyson Brannan. The newest members are Emma Bolen, Alexis Kindred, Maddie Sancken, Grace Murphy, Audrey Negray, Benji Valadez Mustonen, Annabell Baker, Haley Shadwick, Brinlee Dearth, Maddie Bressner, Kylie Hall, Kloe Vaughn, Kat Mercer, and Kori Johnson. Congrats to everyone who made the team and I hope everyone is looking forward to the upcoming school year! Color Guard Update By Lily Fetgatter