Kearney High School Vocal Music students delivered an outstanding performance at the MSHSAA District Solo/Ensemble Festival on Saturday, March 22, with 51 students competing in 44 events and earning top marks across the board. 

Nearly every KHS performance received either an Exemplary (Gold) or Outstanding (Silver) rating, a reflection of both the students’ talent and the preparation led by Vocal Music Teacher Dustin McKinney. Gold ratings also qualified students to compete at the State Solo/Small Ensemble Festival on May 2 at the University of Missouri.

KHS earned Exemplary ratings in three small ensemble events. Those honors went to Megan Grider, Zuzu DeLay, Evan Burgdoerfer, Audree Curran, Joshua Robinson, Ethan Shoemaker, Lucas Zurliene and Gracelyn Williamson; Delayne Boyd, Archer Schmidt, Emiliana Eberhardt, Sofia Kouzinoglou, Drew Nelson, Avery Janiak, Nathanial West and Aiden Vasquez; and Delayne Boyd, Emiliana Eberhardt, Sofia Kouzinoglou, Phoebe Taylor, Camille Hermon and Allison Dixon. Exemplary ratings in vocal solo competition were earned by James Billingsley, Sofia Kouzinoglou, Drew Nelson, Maverick Kerns, Allison Dixon, Kaycie Springer, Phoebe Taylor, Audree Curran, James Hunsucker, Matthew Edie, Emiliana Eberhardt and Delayne Boyd.

Outstanding ratings in small ensemble competition were earned by Samantha Billingsley, Maverick Kerns, Katherine Smith, Brodie Burton, Audree Curran and Adrienne Ford; Tristan Klein, Jackson Morris, Matthew Edie, Camden Haney, Ethan Shoemaker, Kaycie Springer, Lucas Zurliene and Jackson Watts; and Ryan Pedee, James Hunsucker, Thomas McAuliffe, Ethan Shoemaker, Kieren Minnich and Haydon Parton. Outstanding ratings in vocal solo competition were earned by Aiden Vasquez, Kadence Vanderau, Sutton Madison, Zoie Morris, Kieren Minnich, Adrienne Ford, Henry West, Katherine Smith, Zuzu DeLay, Joshua Robinson, Samantha Billingsley, Nathanial West, Lucas Zurliene, Taylor Kolek, Jaci Berndt, Mikaela Randoll, Jackson Vasquez, Hannah Tokarchuk, Jaelyn Deen and Camden Haney.

Congratulations to all of these students and to Mr. McKinney on an exceptional day of achievement. We are proud of the way our Bulldogs continue to represent Kearney High School with talent, poise and excellence.