Orchestra Class of 2026

Music: Orchestra Varsity (11, 12) ● Orchestra Honors (12) ● Kiwanis Orchestra Award ● Class B Violin Duet (11-Superior) ● Class C Violin/Viola Trio (11-Excellent, 12-Superior) ● Class B String Quartet (11-Excellent) ● Symphony Orchestra (9, 10, 11, 12) ● Candles & Carols (9)

Academic: Kiwanis Academic Award ● Health Tech Highest Achiever

Extra-Curricular: National Honor Society ● Global Scholars ● Teaching private lessons to young violinists

Post-Graduation: Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Nursing)

My favorite orchestra memory is when we threw a party in 8th grade and Mr Japikse let us do Karaoke. One of the songs that was adamantly requested was Bohemian Rhapsody, so the whole class sang off-key for the entire 7 minute duration. It feels very full circle to be playing it as one of our last songs in Orchestra.

Music: Orchestra Varsity (10, 11, 12) ● Orchestra Honors (11) ● Class B Violin Solo (10-Superior) ● Class C Violin Solo (9-Excellent) ● Class B Violin Trio (10-Superior) ● Class B String Quartet (10-Superior) ● Class C String Quartet (9-Superior) ● Symphony Orchestra (10, 11, 12) ● Florida Orchestra (9) ● OSU Honors String Orchestra (11) ● Prelude Concertmaster (9) ● Symphony Concertmaster (11, 12) ● Vespula String Quartet (10, 11, 12) ● Forum Show (10)

Academic: Rural and Small Town Recognition (10-11) ● National Merit Scholar Commended (11) ● AP Scholar Award (11) ● Chemistry Student of the Year (10) ● AP Literature Student of the Year (11) ● Academic Letter (3rd Year)

Extra-Curricular: Golf (Scholar Athlete) ● Bowling (Scholar Athlete) ● Tennis ● Jacket Journal ● Student Government ● National Honor Society ● Volunteers for Honor Flight Columbus

Post-Graduation: Dartmouth College (Public Policy & Biology)

My favorite orchestra memory is playing with the Vespula String Quartet for the past three years. I especially enjoyed playing in the Forum Show.

Music: Orchestra Varsity (11) ● Class B String Quartet (11-Excellent) ● Class C String Quartet (9-Superior) ● Symphony Orchestra (10, 11, 12) ● Florida Orchestra (9)

Academic: AP Scholar ● Commended Scholar ● Honor Roll ● Kiwanis AP Government Award ● Kiwanis Academic Award

Extra-Curricular: Swimming (12) ● Global Scholars ● Works at Bickerdyke Table and Tap

Post-Graduation: Attending college

Everyone says this, but genuinely our Florida trip my freshman year was one of my favorite school memories in general. I got to have so many wonderful memories with people I did not often get to see, and that was really wonderful. I also loved our trips for OMEA, especially my junior year, where we would be spending the whole day at Granville and be so tired by the end, but just hanging out with the group and listening to other groups perform (and obviously perform as well.)

Music: Orchestra Varsity (10, 11, 12) ● Orchestra Honors (11) ● Class A Cello Solo (11-Superior, 12-Superior) ● Class B Cello Solo (9-Superior, 10-Superior) ● Class B Viola/Cello Duet (10-Superior) ● Class B String Quartet (9-Superior, 11-Excellent) ● Class C Cello Choir (12-Festival) ● Symphony Orchestra (9, 10, 11, 12) ● East-Central Region Orchestra (10, 11, 12) ● Vespula String Quartet (11, 12) ● Knox County Symphony Orchestra (12) ● Symphony Cello Principal (11, 12)

Academic: Kiwanis Academic Award ● Honor Roll

Extra-Curricular: Knox County Symphony Orchestra Board Member ● Volunteers at Habitat for Humanity Restore

Post-Graduation: Oberlin College (Anthropology & Art History)

My favorite orchestra memory is riding the bus on the way to OMEA Large Group and waiting around in Granville High School in between playing/getting scores, there was always a really strong sense of community and I always had a blast

Music: Orchestra Varsity (10, 11, 12) ● Orchestra Honors (12) ● Class B Viola Quartet (12-Superior) ● Class C Violin/Viola/Cello Trio (11-Superior, 12-Superior) ● Bowling Green Honors Orchestra (10) ● Symphony Orchestra (10, 11, 12) ● Florida Orchestra (9)

Academic: Academic Letter ● Honor Diploma ● Honor Roll

Extra-Curricular: Fall Drama (12) ● Musical (11, 12) ● Global Scholars ● Drama Club

Post-Graduation: Kenyon College (Environmental Studies)

My favorite orchestra memory is practicing full orchestra music with the band.

Music: Orchestra Varsity (11) ● Class C Violin-Viola Trio (12-Excellent) ● Symphony Orchestra (12) ● Florida Orchestra (9)

Post-Graduation: Capital University (Nursing)

My favorite orchestra memory is getting to know my peers outside of the orchestra room while on the Florida trip.

Music: Orchestra Varsity (10, 12) ● Class B Violin Solo (10-Excellent) ● Class C Soprano Solo (9-Excellent) ● Class B Vocal Ensemble (10-Good) ● Class C Violin/Viola Trio (11-Excellent, 12-Superior) ● Class C Vocal Ensemble (9-Superior) ● Symphony Orchestra (11, 12) ● Women’s Choir

Academic: Academic Letter ● Kiwanis Academic Award

Extra-Curricular: Golf ● Swimming ● National Honor Society ● Global Scholars ● Volunteers at Starting Point Pregnancy Center and Church Preschool/Nursery

Post-Graduation: Kenyon College

My favorite orchestra memory was playing at Solo and Ensemble with Mira and Zeva.

Music: Orchestra Varsity (11, 12) ● Class B Viola Solo (12-Excellent) ● Class B Viola Duet (11-Superior) ● Class C Violin-Viola Trio (12-Excellent) ● Class B Viola Quartet (12-Superior) ● Symphony Orchestra (10, 11, 12) ● Symphony Viola Section Leader (12)

Academic: Academic Letter ● Honors Diploma

Extra-Curricular: Softball

Post-Graduation: Terra State Community College (Biology) with plans to play in orchestra & softball

My favorite orchestra memories are all the spirit weeks. Those days never felt like a normal class. Whether it was random party days, Mr. Springer showing up in a Barbie outfit, or everyone playing in pajamas, everything just felt more relaxed and real. It wasn’t only about the music, we actually got to enjoy being around each other, and those chaotic moments made orchestra stand out from everything else.

Music: Orchestra Varsity (11, 12) ● Orchestra Honors (12) ● Class C Viola Solo (12-Superior) ● Class B Viola/Cello Duet (10-Superior) ● Class C Violin/Viola Trio (11-Excellent, 12-Superior) ● Class C String Quartet (9-Superior) ● Symphony Orchestra (10, 11, 12) ● Florida Orchestra (9) ● Prelude Orchestra Viola Principal (9)

Academic: Honor Roll

Extra-Curricular: Tennis ● Track ● FFA ● 4-H ● ConTAC

Post-Graduation: The Ohio State University (Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife & Environmental Education minor)

My favorite orchestra memory is the Disney trip, it was a blast. Also on the last day of 8th grade when we all watched/listened to Bohemian Rhapsody and partied.

Music: Orchestra Varsity (11) ● Class B String Quartet (10-Festival) ● Class C Cello Choir (12-Festival) ● Symphony (11, 12) ● Florida Orchestra (9)

Academic: Honor Roll ● Merit Roll ● AP Art ● Vedette

Extra-Curricular: Swimming (12) ● Art Club (10, 11, 12) ● French Club (9, 10) ● FCCLA (10) ● Forum Court (12) ● Playing Guitar

Post-Graduation: Denison University (Anthropology & Psychology)

My favorite orchestra memory is spending time with all sorts of people on the Florida trip. Besides that amazing experience, I also enjoyed the pre-class chatter that probably drives Mr. Springer insane... I have loved getting to know the orchestra and making friends with people that I may have not talked to otherwise.