2020 Music Award Recipients

Music Notes on purple background

Plymouth High School Music Department Announces 2020 Student Award Recipients 

Every year, the Plymouth High School music department holds a celebration on an evening in May to recognize and honor band, choir, and orchestra students for their hard work and commitment throughout the school year. This year’s celebration was slated to take part this week on Thursday, May 14, however, due to the nationwide coronavirus pandemic the PHS Music Department annual awards ceremony was canceled.

Plymouth High School administration, along with PHS Band Director Bryan Ames, PHS Choir Director Ryan VanAntwerp, and PHS Orchestra Director Jodi Kallenberg congratulate the following students listed below for their accomplishments and achievements.

Choir Awards

  • Most Improved Freshmen: Shane Gaskill and Treyvon O’Leary
  • Most Improved Sophomores: Kayla Rios and Blake Bowling
  • Most Improved Juniors: Kameron Kopetski and Ryan Puglisi
  • Most Improved Seniors: Armando Chantea and Diego Garcia
  • Choir Teacher Aide Recognition: Hailey Casper (12), Mandi Daugherty (12), Katie Fisher (12), Katie Machlan (12), Ayanna Soria (12)  
  • Senior Choir Paperweight Recipients: Dexter Ambrose, Sydney Cochran, Mandi Daugherty, Katie Fisher, Kelsey Kowaleski, Abigale Lee, Katie Machlan, Brenna Manns, Madilynn Morris, Alexandra Rodgers, Ayanna Soria
  • Art Becknell Rotary Scholarship Recipient: Abigale Lee
  • Director’s Award: Dexter Ambrose and Ayanna Soria

Orchestra Awards

  • Most Improved Freshman: Madelyn Record
  • Most Improved Sophomore: Madison Voreis
  • Most Improved Junior: Makayla Wilson
  • Most Improved Senior: Andie Kizer
  • Orchestra Teacher Aide Recognition: Mitchel Dickson (12), Jesus Gama (11), Savannah Paxton (11), Abigail Nelson (11), Amalia Gonzalez (11), Jenna Justice (12), Cristina Shortt (10)
  • Senior Orchestra Paperweight Recipients: Elizabeth Lee, Landrie Mattern, Jenna Justice, Lauren Schumacher, Mary Hildebrand, Andie Kizer
  • Director’s Award:  Elle Lee
  • Susan Bardwell Memorial Award: Mitchel Dickson

Band Awards  

  • Most Improved Freshman: Gavyn Ferman, Trey Hall, and Keith Thielmann
  • Most Improved Sophomore: Nathan Filson, William Kingston
  • Most Improved Junior: Alexandria Haas, Selina Zheng

Band Teacher Aide Recognition:

  • Alexa Esquivel (10), Selina Zheng (11), Jacob Payne (9), Jackson Bougher (10), Lucas Record (10), Steven Myers (10), Ellianna Schaller (9), Jacob Kowatch (11), Hailey Casper (12)
  • Freshman Band Service Awards: Tessa Hutchinson and Oscar De La Torre
  • Sophomore Band Service Awards: Anica Denney, Brianna Leary, Steven Myers, Lucas Record
  • Junior Band Service Awards:  Michael Berg, Caitlin Eckert, Jacob Kowatch, Brayden Mackey, Jacob Mathews
  • Senior Band Service Award:  Mitchel Dickson

Overall Band Awards

  • Richard Benefiel Memorial Award:  Tessa Hutchinson and Jacob Kowatch
  • John Philip Sousa Band Award:  Hailey Casper
  • Patrick Gilmore Band Award:  Shelby Casteel
  • Louis Armstrong Jazz Award:  Mitchel Dickson

Band Honors & Scholarships and Awards

  • Instrumental Music Hall of Fame Award: Zian Hansen
  • William Schemberger Scholarship:  Hailey Casper and Shelby Casteel
  • Robert Pickell Memorial Scholarship:  Hailey Casper
  • Art Becknell Rotary Scholarship:  Shelby Casteel