CHS Music Department honors senior band and chorus members

<span>CHESTER - Chester High School band and chorus four-year seniors were recognized May 12 at the annual Spring Concert and awards ceremony.</span>

<span>The event was originally scheduled to take place at the final home basketball game of the year, but bad weather caused the game to be cancelled. Steve Colonel, Chester High School band director was then forced to make other arrangements.</span>

<span>"An agreement was worked out with the IHSA officials to hold senior night recognition for basketball players, cheerleaders and dance team members prior to the first game of the IHSA boys basketball regional tournament, which Chester hosted," Colonel said. "With such a large group of senior band members, it didn't seem feasible to conduct the band senior night activities at that time."</span>

<span>CHS Athletic Director, Mike Coffey and other CHS administrators worked with Colonel to decide on an alternative way to recognize the senior Yellow Jacket band members. It was decided to incorporate senior night activities into the annual Spring Concert. </span>

<span>"If the truth were told, I don't think the seniors really care where the recognition took place as long as I brought the giant chocolate bars to pass out to them during their recognition ceremony," Colonel joked before the concert.</span>

<span>Colonel recognized the four-year members of swing choir and concert choir first. That group included 12 vocalists.</span>

<span>Four-year choir members are Mikayla Atchison, Rachel Clendenin, Makinzie Griffith, Deanna Hohgrefe, Samantha Kozora, Dustin Lilley, Kennedy McCormick, Taylor McDaniel, Josh Miller, McKenzi Rucker, Brandon Sauerhage and Chloe Wallace. </span>

<span>Four-year senior band members are Mikayla Atchison, daughter of Mike and Denice Atchison; Alec Burdel, son of Billy and Sherri Phillips; Rachel Clendenin, daughter of Troy and Connie Clendenin; Paige Davitz, daughter of Jerry and Terri Davitz; Brenden Heins, son of Craig Heins and Johnna Russel; Deanna Hohgrefe, daughter of Jon and Becky Hohgrefe and Dylan Kaspar, son of Layla Kaspar.</span>

<span>Other senior band members are Madison Kueker, daughter of Alan and Machelle Kueker; Peyton Lee, daughter of Tony and Kristi Williams; Sarah Liefer, daughter of Jon and Mary Liefer; Dustin Lilley, son of Gary and Charnell Lilley; Josh Miller, son of John and Jennifer Galeski; as well as McKenzi Rucker, daughter of Dale Rucker and Kirk and Sheri Coughlin.</span>

<span>Finally, the last group of senior band members was Daulton Stahlheber, son of David Stahlheber and Shannon Labruyere; Brooke Straight, daughter of Donald and Nancy Straight; Bradley Surman, son of Mark and Tammy Surman; Chase Usher, son of Gary Usher and Glenda McMillan; Cody Usher, son of Gary and Glenda Usher; Chloe Wallace, daughter of Stephen and Connie Wallace; and Madison Wofford, daughter of Randy and LaRae Wofford.</span>

<span>"I particularly want to thank the band and chorus seniors for all of their dedication not only to the concert portion of the school year, but also for all they do to promote our school district and community in the various sporting events at which they perform on a regular basis," Colonel said.</span>