Awards and Winners

Each year we give our yearly awards to some of our exemplary choir members. 

Please see the following list of awards and winners from each year.

National School Choral Award
School Choral Award is given to the choir member who is most involved in choral repertoire through a variety of choral experiences, both in school and outside of school. It is a recognition of a student who has truly dedicated themselves to experiencing as much choral music and as many choirs as they had the opportunity to try. The student should be: in multiple choirs in school,  auditioned for and been accepted into State and/or National Honors Choirs, exhibits outstanding musicianship and ability, is highly dedicated, shows leadership and contributions to any and all choirs evident and shows strong academic achievement in all areas of school.

Previous Winners:
2016: Natalie Neace & Matthew Gray
2017: Alexis Gabbard & Payton Epperson
2018: Taylor Parks & Ryan Adkins
2019: Maggie Siebert & Jack Hoffpauir
2020: Ella Exterkamp & Ivan Lewis
2021: Emma Horton & Hank Slaby
2022: Natalie Horton & Matthew Grimme
2023: Grace Shuley & Connor Defevers

Robert Knauf Award
The Robert Knauf Award is given annually to a student who has contributed an invaluable amount of their time, energy and talent to the program during the year. Without the selfless dedication of this person, the choral program as a whole could not have had the successes it did. The recipient represents the type of spirit, energy and positive attitude necessary to the success of the choir and shows it through their leadership and dedication toward the advancement of the HHS Choir Department. The award is named after former HHS Choir Director, Bob Knauf who led the HHS Choir Department for over 25 years and later became a professor at Northern Kentucky University and was a previous director of the Cincinnati May Festival Chorus. His passion for choral music, as well as his ability to connect and resonate with students, left a lasting impact on those he taught. The award winner will have their name added to a plaque of award winners displayed in the HHS Choir Room, and receive an individual plaque.

Previous Winners:
2016: Gracie Fettig
2017:  Taylor Parks
2018: Lexus Ossege
2019: Maggie Siebert
2020: Lizzy Roeding
2021: Justin Gabbard
2022: Kierra Guttadauro
2023: Jonah Listerman

Michelle Chalk Award
This award is named in memory of Michelle Chalk who was to be an incoming freshman in 2017. Those that knew her remember her as a wonderful person with an incredible, beautiful spirit who dedicated her life to everything she did. Michelle's overwhelming positivity and the way she loved everyone continues to live on in her memory with the Highlands Choir Department. This award is  given annually to a student who has shown outstanding pride, spirit, enthusiasm and unity purpose to the Highlands Choirs. The award winner will have their name added to a plaque of award winners displayed in the HHS Choir Room, and receive an individual plaque.

Previous Winners:
2018: Madison Kaufman
2019: Sawyer Depp
2020: Emma Horton
2021: Kierra Guttadauro
2022: Annie Perkins
2023: Sylvie Martin