There were 17 Escalon High School music students that represented their school in the San Joaquin County Honors Music Ensembles this year. A total of 11 EHS students were selected to participate in the Choir and six students in the Band.

“These students submitted auditions and were selected,” said EHS musical director Ashley Silveira.

They took part in a performance on Saturday, Jan. 10 at Delta College in Stockton.

Students participating were, in alphabetical order: Jenna Augusto, Sophia Barboza, Drew Bellinger, Brenden Berchtold, Samantha Bruns, Juliette Chavarri, Abemael Castillo, Vivienne Harp. Also, Inga Lehrer, Owen Madsen, Esmeralda Prado, Cristal Prado, Lilliann Ruiz, Alden Schultz, Emilia Sousa, Spencer Sousa, and Melanie Wright.

The San Joaquin County High School Honors Concert featured talented student-musicians from school districts throughout the county, taking part in choir, band, and orchestra performances.

The concert consisted of 300 total students (108 choir, 92 band, and 100 orchestra) from 20 schools in nine districts within San Joaquin County. The auditions and concert were organized by the San Joaquin County Office of Education Student Engagement and the Arts department, which sponsors the event with the Delta College Music Department and the San Joaquin County Music Educators' Association.

Guest conductors select music and lead the performances. This year, they included: Band guest conductor, Elisha Wells, Fresno City College; Choir guest conductor, Kory Reid, Fog City Singers; Orchestra guest conductor, Ryan Murray, California State University, Sacramento.

The Nelson Zane Four-Year Award was given to students who have been accepted to the SJCOE High School Honors program for all four years of eligibility. Escalon recipients were Drew Bellinger and Emilia Sousa, band; and Brenden Berchtold, choir.

“Drew Bellinger also auditioned and made the California All-State Honor Band again,” Silveira noted of the outstanding accomplishment for the EHS senior. “He will be representing Escalon in Sacramento for the All-State Music Educator Conference January 15th through the 18th.”

Bellinger will take part in the concert performance on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 11 a.m., being staged at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento.