Earlier this month, more than a dozen Escalon High School musicians and vocalists took center stage, having a turn to shine in the spotlight.

“The Escalon High School band and choir had a fabulous night at the San Joaquin County Office of Education’s honor ensembles concert evening at Delta College on Saturday, January 10,” noted Escalon Unified School District music teacher Joel Adams.

Adams and EHS musical director Ashley Silveira said that a total of 15 EHS band and choir students participated in multiple rehearsals and the culminating performance that highlighted “the skills and dedication of the best and brightest” from San Joaquin County school music programs. In addition, students Alden Schultz and Brenden Berchtold were singled out for special scholarship honors.

Band students under the direction of Silveira that represented Escalon included Drew Bellinger, Spencer Sousa, Owen Madsen, Emilia Sousa, Alden Schultz, and Samantha Bruns. Choir students under the direction of Adams that took part in the honors concert included Melanie Wright, Jenna Augusto, Esmeralda Prado, Cristal Prado, Sophia Barboza, Vivienne Harp, Lilliann Ruiz, Brenden Berchtold, and Abe Castillo. Over 300 students throughout the county participated in the event.

Bassoonist, Alden Schultz, was one of two band students at the event selected to receive the “Pacific Summer High School Institute” scholarship. The institute is a two-week residential pre-college summer program that provides high school students with the opportunity to “live, learn and grow” at University of the Pacific.

Also, Drew Bellinger, Brenden Berchtold, and Emilia Sousa received the Nelson Zane award, which is presented to four-year honors ensemble students. All of the students in the county that qualified for the Nelson Zane were given the opportunity to write an essay about their Music Ensembles honors four-year experience with a $500 scholarship available. The scholarship was awarded to Brenden Berchtold.