Ten Upper School Choir students were recognized for their outstanding work during the 2020-2021 school year. Below are the vocal music award accomplishments.
The Instrumentalist Magazine Musicianship Certificate is presented at the discretion of the director to students in grades 9-12 for their outstanding musicianship throughout the course of the school year. The 2021 recipients are:
Annabelle Abramov ’22
Nanayaa Ashie-Winns ’21
Lauren Douglas ’22
Isabel Woodard ’22
Ittmum Zahir ’22
The Quincy Jones Musicianship Award is presented to two members of the junior class each spring. In his long musical career, Quincy Jones did it all as a composer, arranger, performer, producer, and teacher. The Quincy Jones Award is presented to a student who shares his boundless energy and musical versatility as well as his humble spirit. “Be humble with your creativity and gracious with your success.” – Quincy Jones
The 2021 recipients are June Brown ’22 and Gabe Probst ’22.
The Leonard Bernstein Musicianship Award is given at the discretion of the director to a student or students for their extraordinary musical contributions, musical growth, dedication, and leadership. The recipients also demonstrate a cohesive spirit and a sincere desire to make musical connections.
The 2021 recipients are Sebastian Ashman ’22 and Sasha Shanker ’22.
The National School Choral Award is the highest honor that a senior student in the vocal music program can receive. This nationally recognized award is presented annually to a graduating senior (or seniors) who has given four years of exemplary service to the MICDS choral program.
The certificate reads: “In recognition of superior merit, ability, and achievement of outstanding contributions to the school choral program, and of an unusual degree of loyalty, cooperation, and high quality of conduct by the general consent of the music faculty, school officials, and others.”
The 2021 recipient is Jaylah McMurtry ’22.
“Jaylah McMurtry is a force to be reckoned with,” said Dana Self, Upper School Performing Arts Teacher. “Throughout her musical career at MICDS, she has been in choir all four years, auditioned for and been selected to perform with the prestigious St. Louis Metro District Choir, performed in Troubadours productions, choreographed dances for the annual spring pops concert, was featured as a soloist on the Winter Masterworks Concert as a freshman, and has enjoyed tremendous success in the demanding AP® Music Theory Course. In December, she took on the role of conductor during a recording session for the Winter Masterworks Concert while I was away from school under quarantine. They might have performed better for Jaylah than they do for me!”
The Chamber Choir juniors were given the opportunity to write about each senior and how they were impacted by them over the course of the school year. One student wrote of Jaylah: “She is one of the most talented, amazing, kind, and intimidating people you will ever meet. She always ensures that people know their parts or choreography, and if you don’t, she will let you know. When that happens, all three feet and six inches of her grows to a startling four feet tall as she stands on her tippy toes to scold you. All joking aside, she is incredibly talented, and I seriously cannot wait to see what she does with her beautiful voice and incredible mind in college.”
Jaylah plans to study music at Belmont University in the fall.
Congratulations to all the award recipients!