Piano: Malachi Suh, 9thMalachi is role model student in piano class. He is attentive, focused, and dedicated to learning and growing more everyday. Malachi is an inspiration to those around him. Keep up the great work! Music & Media: Abhinav Akavaram, 12thAbhinav shows off his great creativity in Music & Media Communications class. He strives to explore more each day and is always open to feedback and growth. Abhinav is a role model for his peers. Keep up the awesome work! AP Music Theory: Vandana Iyer, 9thVandana is a new student in AP Music Theory class. She is doing very well jumping into a new school and new environment, and is working hard to ensure success. Vandana does excellent asking questions and participating. Keep up the awesome work! Dance: Nicole Huffmaster, 12thNicole has been an involved student in the Dance Department for the past four years. By taking our upper level jazz courses, serving as a Nobility team member, a Royalty team member. While on Royalty, Nicole has served as a Social Officer and President. She has continuously worked hard to promote the Royalty organization and build a positive and inclusive culture within the team. Choir: Amen Samuel, 9thStudent is always coming in and asking if there is anything she can do to help me. If that is cleaning up the room or stapling music or organizing papers, she is always looking for a way to help. She helps other in the classroom as well. Art: Peyton Fletcher, 12thPeyton has been a strong artist since I had her as a stand-out Art 1 student in her freshman year and have loved seeing the growth of her work, and leadership skills. Peyton has excelled in AP Drawing with an impeccable & dynamic portfolio for this school year. Peyton also received a 4 (highest rating) for VASE this past February and has been an extra outstanding leader as our National Art Honor Society president with organized leadership skills. Peyton is a student who we can always count on as being the person who can help anyone in class in a positive way to assist someone who is struggling and builds the student back up. Amazing individual in everyway!!! Thank you, Peyton for being you!! Theatre: Ian Kennedy, 12thIan Kennedy is a dedicated and extremely knowledgeable theatre student in the Cedar Ridge theatre department. Ian has been showcased in numerous productions while involved with Theatre at the Ridge. As a sophomore he played the role of The Royal Sultan in our virtual production of The Arabian Nights before being a featured performer in Just For Laughs and a featured dancer in FAME. Last year he played the role of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and was also a featured dancer in our musical production of Footloose. As a senior, Ian played the role of Fred Casley in our musical production of Chicago and was most recently seen as the pechanlant Lloyd in our UIL One-Act Play production of Blue Stockings for which he was named as an Honorable Mention All Star Cast recipient. Since his sophomore year, Ian has been in at least three theatre classes every year and sometimes even four. Along with all his accomplishments in the Theatre Department he is also a member of ZACH Theatre's Pre-Professional Company and is a National Merit Finalist. Ian is a leader in the department helping to stage manage or assistant direct where needed. He is well respected by his peers and directors for his incredible work ethic and ability to problem solve. Words alone cannot express our sincere gratitude for all of the time he has committed to this program over the years. Ian is a unique and valuable theatre student. who keeps us on our toes. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for him after his graduation this May, but we are sure he will lead and do amazing things with his curious nature, amazing talent and strong intellect. Band: Reece Ababao, 11thReece is a student with a crazy amount of determination in everything he sets his mind to. As a drum major, he used his pedagogical skill set to help improve his team at every opportunity. As one of our top clarinetists, his performance skills and tenacity have inspired those around him. He takes every loss and win as an opportunity to get better. We are excited for how much he will accomplish next year. Orchestra: Siddhartha Venkatayogi, 10thSid is a sophomore violist in Symphony Orchestra. Since joining us at Cedar Ridge, he has made steady, noticeable progress as a musician. This year he was a member of the Region Orchestra as well. Congrats, Sid!
March 2023
Piano: Seth Martinez, 12thSeth is an inspiration to his piano classmates. Seth is very passionate about his piano playing, always choosing challenging repertoire for his recital pieces. Seth and four of his pianist peers will be advancing to the Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest for Piano in late May where they will make CRHS proud as they strive for excellence. Lead onward, Seth! Dance: Valerie Mendez, 10thValerie is a wonderful addition to the CR Dance Dept. She is always working hard to better her own technique and also encourage those around her to try their best! Music Theory: Naomi Vega, 11thNaomi is doing very well in AP Music Theory. She shares her love of singing and playing the guitar with the class, and is eager to learn more about music each day. Keep it up! Music & Media: Diego Carlin, 11thDiego continuously goes above and beyond on his composition projects in Music & Media Communications class. His involvement in multiple music courses over the years demonstrates his great passion for music. Keep up the awesome work! Theatre: Tyler Clark, 12thTyler Clark is a senior technical theatre student who always arrives ready to learn and with a joke or two to keep all of those he works with in good spirits. In Tyler's junior year, he participated as a technician for our Outdoor Movie Night at the Ridge events. He then moved into a Backstage Crew Head position for our spring musical "Footloose" where you could find him leading the run crew to whatever needed to be completed. Tyler moved into a run crew position for our Shakespeare in the Courtyard production of "Romeo and Juliet" and he assisted the cast with any costume help or backstage scenery movements. Tyler finished his junior year by working as the light board operator for our Comedy & Improv show "Just for Laughs". Tyler started this school year by participating as one of the five student lighting designers on our Musical Theatre Showcase: Lights Up! He then led a hallway as a tech leader for our Zombie Experience 2022. In November, Tyler moved back into the Auditorium as our Fly Rail Head for the Children's Show, "The Snow Queen". Tyler then moved into musical rehearsals where he worked as Assistant Stage Manager for our musical "Chicago". Tyler is currently the Stage Manager for our UIL One Act Play production of "Blue Stockings". Tyler is extremely calm and dependable. He lights up the room with his energy and is always asking questions about how things work or how to support his fellow peers. We are very proud to recognize Tyler as theatre student of the month! Choir: Emily Furrer, 10thThis student is very helpful. She has volunteered to help take over our social media. Art: Andrea Correa, 11thAndrea has consistently been top of her ceramics class this year. She produces beautiful, thoughtful pieces that are the epitome of solid construction technique and creative design. Andrea is respected by her peers and her teachers alike, and she has continued to impress with her work ethic, inventive compositions and her maturity as a young artist all year long. Band: Isaac DeMent, 10thIsaac has been a consistent example of hard work, professionalism, and good spirit during his time in band. His diligence to improvement for himself and his peers has been a positive force in the band. Orchestra: Unity Laws, 12thUnity is a Senior violist in Philharmonic orchestra. Last week she served as a soloist on our Full Orchestra UIL program, and earlier this month she performed a solo at UIL Solo and Ensemble, earning a 1st division. Unity is also a Draylen Mason Fellow through Austin Soundwaves. Congratulations, Unity!
February 2023
Music & Media: Cesar Garcia Guillen, 9thCesar shows a great passion for music creativity in Music & Media Communications class. His compositions are always very intricate and 'crowd pleasers' for the class audience. He is a great role model for other students - keep up the awesome work! Dance: Rida Mosani, 11thRida is dedicated to improving her dance skills and encouraging her classmates to do as well. She is a delight to have in the classroom and dance deptartment. Piano: Zory Mathurin, 9thZory is always a positive role model in piano class, participating well and working her hardest. Keep up the awesome work! Music Theory: Gavin Peterka, 12thGavin demonstrates a great passion for music in AP Music Theory class. He shares his musical compositions during our "Performance Days" and does a good job participating and helping others. Keep up the great work! Choir: T Dean, 12thThis student goes above and beyond to help during class, as well as outside of class. They volunteered to lead class while I was gone for TMEA to help the class progress on their UIL music. Band: Diego Tiessen, 12thDiego served as the center snare for the 1st in the state CRHS Percussion Section and recently performed at the TMEA convention as an All-State Musician. He also performs with the CRHS Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band. His exemplary performance is mirrored by his leadership in and dedication to the band program. Art: Tina Choi, 11thTina is an all round excellent student. She comes to class ready to get to work each and everyday. Tina works very hard with a self-driven focus on her assignments and gives her very best all class period long, sometimes taking assignments home to put even more time into them. She is always eager to learn new techniques and to work with new mediums. Tina is competing in the North Austin Regional VASE art competition this month with two fantastic drawing entries. I wish her the very best of luck and I am confident that she is going to do very well at VASE. Theatre: Emily Duncan, 12thEmily Duncan is a senior theatre student who has shined in every opportunity offered to her during her time at Cedar Ridge. She has been a beacon of dependable excellence. As a sophomore, Emily performed in The Arabian Nights as the unjustly punished youngest sister before taking the stage in June of 2021 for our musical production of FAME. In her junior year, Emily joined the Cedar Ridge band in the role of the "cat" for their marching show, Superstition. Emily continued to dance and sing as a featured dancer in Footloose that year before playing the roles of Gregory and Romeo’s best friend, Benvolio, in Romeo and Juliet. Along with her time on stage, Emily has spent time behind the scenes working on various costume crews for different productions. Along with being incredibly talented, Emily is a joy to work with both in rehearsals and in the classroom. She has a delightful personality that makes working with her a gift for both peers and directors. As a senior, Emily entertained audiences each night in Chicago as she played the role of Katalin Helinski , the infamous Hungarian. She sang, danced, and also jumped INTO the orchestra pit every night in a thrilling performance. As we head into One Act Play season, we are excited to have Emily as part of the cast of Blue Stockings in the role of Celia. We know her talent and dedication will shine on stage. Even among her many theatre responsibilities, Emily has managed to maintain excellence in her academic subjects and has never waivered. We feel so lucky to have Emily in the Cedar Ridge Theatre Department and are grateful for her thoughtfulness, artistry, kindness and wholehearted devotion she has brought to our halls the past four years. Orchestra: Divya Chatty, 10thDivya is a sophomore violinist in Symphony Orchestra. She is a dependable student who is always willing to help out. In her two years at Cedar Ridge, she has put in the extra work to be a part of Region Orchestra, UIL Solo and Ensemble and TSSEC. Congratulations, Divya!
January 2023
Music Theory: Stuart Porter, 9thStuart is a wonderful role model in AP Music Theory class, always participating and persevering. His positive attitude is definitely contagious! Keep up the great work! Music & Media: Jake Rivera, 11thJake has a great passion for music and shows his wonderful creative talent in Music & Media Communications. The class always enjoys hearing his projects, and Jake is a wonderful role model for everyone. Keep up the great work! Dance: Kaleb Turner, 12thKaleb Turner is a dedicated member who has been involved in our dance department for four years. His freshman year he was on Nobility, then his sophomore and junior year was a member on Royalty and the Dance Educators class. During his senior year, he serves as Colonel of Royalty, the highest student leadership position within Royalty, and was the All State Dancer that represented Cedar Ridge at TDEA. Kaleb also is involved with Musical Theatre where he has served as the Dance Captain for the past two years. Kaleb plans to pursue Dance Education at Texas State University. Piano: Andrea Armendariz, 12thThis is Andrea's fourth year of studying piano at CRHS. Andrea is well-organized, practices the fundamentals in advanced piano class as well as her recital repertoire, and is a strong leader for her peers. Andrea is always well-prepared, going above and beyond whatever the musicology assignment might entail. Art: Ayaana Khawaja, 11thAyaana is one of the hardest working students that I have ever had. She is extremely focused and gives her very best everyday. She is exceptionally creative and skilled, pushing herself to raise her personal bar with each assignment. I am very fortunate to have had her as a student for 3 years in a row now. I am extremely proud to nominate her as the January 2023 Visual Arts Student of the Month. Band: Alec Von Ruden, 12thAlec has been knocking it out of the park in band this month. He participated in the musical where he performed alongside the amazing CRHS Theatre department as well as professional musicians in the pit orchestra. He has maintained excellent attendance as well as a high level of achievement on his region music as well as UIL wind ensemble music. Choir: Joseph Valasagandla, 11thThis student is willing to learn multiple different parts and he works hard not only in class, but outside of class as well. Theatre: Nelson Stevenson, 12thNelson Stevenson is a senior theatre student who has dedicated his time and energy to the Cedar Ridge theatre department the past four years. He is a quiet gentle soul behind the scenes and is always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. As a performer, Nelson lights up the stage with his charisma and ability to entertain audiences. He performs with a genuine love for theatre and he is such a joy to watch on stage. He recently was featured as the judge and a dancer in our production of CHICAGO. As a junior, Nelson performed the role of Mercutio in our production of Romeo & Juliet as the optimistic and loyal friend to Romeo. His sophomore year, Nelson had the opportunity to bring the role of Tyrone Jackson to life in our June production of FAME as he sang and danced his way ""down the sidewalk"" proving that his character deserved his place at the FAME school. Nelson is always respectful of his directors, his fellow cast and crew members, and his peers. He brings his best to class and to rehearsal each and every day. He leads by example and has made a positive impact over the years through his dedication to Theatre at the Ridge. We are delighted to honor Nelson Stevenson as the January Student of the Month for Theatre! Orchestra: Richard Yoon, 11thRichard is a Junior cellist in the Symphony Orchestra. He joined our program during the height of the pandemic in the fall of 2020. Since then, Richard has moved up a few orchestra levels and is now a leading cellist in Symphony. This year he performed a solo during the Winter Concert, and in February he is performing a solo as well as in a cello choir for UIL Solo and Ensemble. Congratulations, Richard!
December 2022
Choir: Molly Kirkendall, 10thThis student is always willing to do anything to help, no matter the task. She has voluntarily been the buddy to one of our FAC students. Music Theory: Brighton Noble, 11thBrighton shows a real passion for learning as much as he can about music in AP Music Theory. He participates well in class and even shares his piano talents with the other students. Keep up the great work! Music & Media: Ayden Conchola, 10thAyden puts a lot of work into his creations in Music & Media Communications class and is always proud to present them to his classmates. He strives to give each of his projects a story and a meaning. Keep up the great work! Piano: Andrii (Andrew) Gutsaliuk, 12thAndrew is a very hard worker in Beginning Piano class and really enjoys learning the instrument. He asks questions often, helps others, and has a positive attitude. Keep up the great work! Dance: Ashby Van Bevern, 10thAshby has actively participated in class and challenged herself among her peers. She has grown tremendously this semester and is a hard working student. So proud to have Ashby in Jazz this year. Art: Kyla Dearing, 12thKyla has been an amazing AP 2-D & AP sculpture student who marvels the art department with spectacular creations in numerous medias that she masters. She pushes all work to a high level that sets her work to a STAND OUT level in her art classes. She also has the most positive attitude and has been very helpful in class with critiquing art work....she is such a delight to have in class. Theatre: Lee Schwartz, 12thWe are proud to present Lee Schwartz as the theatre student of the month! Lee is a senior who can be found onstage or managing backstage on a Cedar Ridge production. Last year, Lee was the Stage Manager for the Children's Show production of Twelve Dancing Princesses in the Cedar Ridge Auditorium. They then worked as one of the Assistant Stage Managers on the 24 hour production of "Elf the Musical". In the spring, Lee returned as a fly rail technician for Footloose the Musical. Lee was then transformed into Nurse and Balthasar for the Shakespeare in the Courtyard production of "Romeo and Juliet". They moved swiftly into their next role as Stage Manager for the Comedy & Improv Show "Just for Laughs" in the CR Black Box. This school year, Lee began the season by working as the Co-Stage Manager for Lights Up! the fall Musical Theatre Showcase. They then served as a tech lead for the Zombie Experience where they were in charge of the makeup team and assisted with the technical lighting and sound for their hallway. Lee is currently serving as Co-Stage Manager for our upcoming musical "Chicago: Teen Edition" where they have been working in rehearsals with the cast to make sure everything is organized and in tip top shape. Lee has such an upbeat attitude to every situation put in front of them and supports everyone to the fullest of their abilities. We are so excited to see how Lee grows throughout their last semester at the Ridge and look forward to everything they will accomplish. Orchestra: Maya Villa, 9thMaya is a freshman violinist in the Concert Orchestra. She has had a strong start since joining us at Cedar Ridge. Maya serves the orchestra as a librarian and has been very involved in her role. She has also led her orchestra as concertmaster for the entire fall semester. In February, Maya plans to perform a solo at UIL Solo and Ensemble. Congratulations, Maya! Band: Camila Martinez, 12thThis student has been dedicated throughout the month of December to her ensemble music as well as working diligently on her region etudes. She made Area on flute and will be competing to be an All Stater this coming weekend. She has sought help and guidance as well as practiced meticulously throughout winter break.
November 2022
Dance: Alisa Sexton, 11thAlisa has been a part of the dance department and member of Nobility for the past 3 years. She is a wonderful representation of dance program and consistently works hard in class. She is immensely helpful as a dance aid this year! Art: Eryx Ledesma, 11thEryx is a stand out art student. He always goes above and beyond with his creativity and makes moving and technically great art. Music Theory: Carysyn Jakeman, 10thCarsyn is a wonderful role model in AP Music Theory, demonstrating a great passion of music with her study and performance in various aspects. She shares her clarinet talents with the class, stays on top of her classwork, and participates very well in group activities. Keep up the great work! Music & Media: Cole Stafford, 11thCole shows a wonderful musical talent in Music & Media Communications class. His creativity in projects shines through, and he is a good role model for others around him. Keep up the great work! Piano: John Leach, 10thJohn is doing wonderfully in piano class, demonstrating his passion for music with his incredible perseverance and positive attitude. Keep up the awesome work! Choir: Abigail Russell, 11thAbby is always enthusiastic about trying new things and is a great leader both in class and outside of class. Band: Daniel Arroyo, 12thDaniel Arroyo has been an amazing band member and band president. Over the season he has put in countless hours to master his marching music on baritone as well as his region band music on bassoon. He organizes our "Hey Band" at each football game which recognizes band members from the other school and brings fellowship to the bands. He has been the first one to rehearsal and last one to leave. We are a better band because of Daniel's contributions. Theatre: Brendan Vohs, 12thBrendan Vohs is a senior theatre student who has been actively involved in the Cedar Ridge theatre department the past four years. Recently, Brendan served as an Assistant Director for our children's show production of The Snow Queen. He worked tirelessly helping in rehearsals and taking notes while sharing his theatre knowledge both with his peers and our directors. Last year, Brendan showed off his acting talents as Reverend Shaw Moore in our musical production of Footloose before hitting the stage as Friar Laurence in Theatre at the Ridge's production of William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. His talents both as an actor, singer, director, and technician have been invaluable to the theatre department over the years. He is a quiet leader but is always leading by example in his quest for excellence both on and off the stage. He is immensely helpful behind the scenes and is always willing to jump right in to working on projects in the theatre wing. This year you can catch Brendan on stage in January as Amos, Roxie Hart's gullible husband, in our upcoming musical production of Chicago. Orchestra: Ava Leon, 12thAva is a Senior Bassist in the Philharmonic Orchestra. She joined us at Cedar Ridge her sophomore year and has been an asset to our program ever since. Ava is a talented musician who has also put the work in to move up in orchestras over the years. She also auditioned for and made Region Orchestra this fall and will perform in their clinic and concert this December. Congratulations, Ava!
October 2022
Choir: Roger Chavez, 12thRoger is always willing to help and volunteer, as well as being a leader during class within his section. Music Theory: Saket Kaki, 12thSaket is a role model student in AP Music Theory class. He actively participates, helps his peers, and demonstrates a great passion for music. Keep up the great work! Music & Media Communications: Ella Reemts, 9thElla has created some wonderful pieces of music in Music & Media Communications class (MMC) that have won her many student "Shout-outs" from her peers. She demonstrates a great passion for music composition, she is willing to be creative, and she is a role model for others. Keep up the awesome job! Art: Lauryn Falzone, 10thLauryn is an exceptional artist in painting class, she works extra hard on all projects and has some mad painting skills that set her above her level. Lauryn also continues to build her artistic skills with side projects outside of class. Thank you Lauryn for your exceptional talents in painting class and look forward to seeing more of your awesome talents unfold in class. Dance: Peyton Boudreaux, 10thPeyton has been working hard each class and challenging herself. She sets a good example for others and bring a positive energy to each class. Piano: Lauren Ngo, 12thLauren is always diligently practicing her scales and tech, as directed, at the beginning of our advanced piano classes. She is currently studying a unique Romantic Era piece by Edward Elgar for our Fall 2022 December 5th recital. Lauren challenges herself in all areas of piano, stretching her limits and striving for excellence in order to become a better pianist and overall musician. Theatre: Ava Van Bevern, 12thAva Van Bevern is a senior theatre student who has seized every opportunity offered to her while at Cedar Ridge and has been a pillar of the Theatre department. Ava has been in a myriad of shows, even starting her freshman year as a member of the ensemble in Legally Blonde. Her sophomore year Ava played the mean Eldest Sister in The Arabian Nights and her performance even reached through the screen in that virtual performance. Also in her sophomore year, we saw Ava work throughout the year and continued on into the summer to perform with the ensemble for the musical Fame. In her junior year, Ava wowed audiences in Footloose as Vi Moore and went on to win the Greater Austin High School Musical Award for Best Supporting Actress. Following that performance we saw Ava as Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet. Along with her time on stage Ava has spent time behind the scenes working on various prop or costume crews. Along with being incredibly talented, Ava is a joy to work with both in rehearsals and in the classroom and has a delightful personality that everyone wants to be around. So far this year, Ava has already wowed audiences in Lights Up, our Musical Theatre Showcase, this September with singing songs from A Chorus Line and Spring Awakening. We feel so lucky to have Ava in the Theatre Department and are excited to see all the different ways she will dazzle us this year! Band: Ashok Shaji, 12thAshok has been consistent in his strong leadership throughout this month and season as a senior drum major with the Cedar Ridge Raider Band and Color Guard. For the past month, and more, he has been punctual, had excellent attendance, hard working, and professional. His role as drum major requires an ability to perform at precise tempo, communicate clearly to large groups of students, and perform great responsibilities under extreme pressure. Many of our top students exhibit high level characteristics, but few are so unwavering as Ashok. Orchestra: Caeden Owens, 12thCaeden is a senior cellist in the Symphony Orchestra. Over the course of his four years at Cedar Ridge, Caeden has been a devoted member of the orchestra. He has participated in UIL Solo and Ensemble, has often served as section leader, serves the orchestra as Symphony Representative, and he was a soloist in our fall concert this year. Caeden is also heavily involved in football and choir, but has always worked to balance the three activities and still excel. Congratulations, Caeden!
September 2022
Dance: Grace (Tori) White, 12thTori has been a student within the dance department for the past 4 years. She is a natural-born leader within the dance class and radiates positivity to her teachers and fellow students. Tori is a wonderful example of what it means to be a dance student at CR! Colorguard: Solon Johnson, 10thSolon has done an exceptional job with welcoming new members, helping them learn new choreography and get comfortable being on the field. He has helped multiple times with prop building and construction for the preparation of the 2022 season. Piano: Ginny Spiotto, 12thThis is Ginny's fourth year of piano classes! Ginny always prepares well in and outside class, no matter what the short or long range goal and plan. Ginny is looking forward to her senior recital performance in our CRHS Auditorium on Monday, December 5th, along with her advanced piano peers. Music Theory: Alfredo Cuautle-Gonzalez, 11thAlfredo has been an excellent role model student in AP Music Theory class. He actively participates and demonstrates a passion for music. Keep up the great work! Choir: Audrey Hunt, 12thThis student is our council president. She has been a leader in class and helps with coming up with new ideas. Art: Diana "Nicole" Carranza Galvez, 12thNicole has very quietly become an excellent young ceramic artist. Her focus, effort, inventive solutions and creativity speak volumes. Nicole lets her outstanding creative aesthetic do the talking. Theatre: Isabella Kellins, 12thIsabella Kellins is an outstanding theatre student at Cedar Ridge. Isabella has been a part of the theatre department all three years of high school. They have been seen onstage in the ensemble in last year’s musical Footloose and the 24 Hour Musical Elf. They were the sound board operator for the 2022 Comedy & Improv Show, Just for Laughs, and were on the run crew for our Shakespeare in the Courtyard performances of Romeo and Juliet. Currently, Isabella is working as one of the lighting designers for the Musical Theatre Showcase and they will also be performing as a member in the ensemble. They have also started working as the Sound Designer for the upcoming Children’s Show, The Snow Queen. Isabella is always lending a helping hand for whatever needs to be completed and has a positive attitude with any situation that they are met with. Isabella has pushed themselves academically so that they can graduate a full year earlier than anticipated. Isabella is constantly striving to do their best and it has been a pleasure to see them grow throughout their time here. We congratulate Is on all they have accomplished and are excited to cheer them on throughout their senior year! Band: Katie Espinosa, 11thKatie Espinosa is an outstanding student musician within the band program. She always brings a high-level of performance to the table and serves the band as one of our Music Techs. Within her role she consistently sets the example for everyone in the band program while always staying positive. The band has been fortunate to have her leadership, flexibility, and compassion. Orchestra: Laila Limuel-Brown, 11thLaila is a Junior violinist in the Camerata Orchestra. She is a student whose passion for orchestra shows everyday. Laila also exhibits strong leadership skills as an officer. She has helped to plan social events, works to include all students, and always shows up to help when there is a need. Keep up the great work, Laila!
May 2022
Dance: Joy Whitbeck, 12thJoy is dedicated to dance and excited to show up and work hard. She radiates positivity to those in class and is a diligent student. Piano: Hector Aguilar, 12thHector has been studying piano for quite some time. He is a very accomplished pianist and works hard at refining scales and tech as well as his piano pieces. Hector is an inspiration to his classmates and all who hear and see him play. Art: Alyssa Massari, 12thAlyssa has truly found her voice artistically this year, doubling her production from last year- and others are starting to take notice too. Alyssa earned a chance to compete at the State VASE competition this spring and her piece was selected as a Gold Seal winner, placing her artwork amongst the top 150 pieces within a field of over 35,000 statewide. We enthusiastically look forward to Alyssa's next endeavors as a young artist and student. Choir: Kalieve Gaston-Ellis, 12thKalieve has been a tremendous leader in all the Choral program for the past 3 years. We can honestly say that he has sometimes been the glue that holds everything and everyone together. He is an excellent musician with outstanding skills, and he has a tenor voice that is expressive, artistic, versatile, and strong. Kalieve's contributions to all the Choirs have made a substantial difference, and his presence has made everything more fun, more musical, and more successful. His generosity with his time and to mentoring other students, as well as his commitment to his ensembles has immeasurable. Thank you, Kalieve! You are one-in-a -million. Band: Andrew Taylor, 12thAndrew has been a top performing member of the band this year and has taken it upon himself to share his experience with his section. Every week he volunteers his time inside and outside of school to help develop the younger members of his section. He does this as a senior with no tangible reward past the fulfillment of growing a legacy and ensuring the continued success of the Raider Band. This dedication and compassion helps him stand out as a leader in the program. Orchestra: Eliot Lam, 12thEliot is a Senior violinist in the Symphony Orchestra. During the course of his four years at Cedar Ridge, he has consistently displayed leadership, musicianship, and a willingness to serve. He became the orchestra Vice President in 2019, stepped up to the role of President when the position opened in 2020, and has since stayed in that position. Eliot has achieved many musical accolades at Cedar Ridge, including serving as Concertmaster, making Region Orchestra and All-State Orchestra, and earning Superior performances at UIL Solo and Ensemble and TSSEC. More importantly, Eliot has remained humble and is a team player. He is quick to help when the need arises, and and has always given back to the orchestra through service. Eliot will be continuing his musical journey at Baylor University where he is also going to study Political Science. We are so proud of you, Eliot! Theatre: Brady Backus, 12thBrady Backus is a senior theatre student and has been incredibly involved in the Cedar Ridge theatre department the past four years. This year, in addition to working hard in his Directing and Theatre Production classes, Brady has been seen on stage as Dr. Jekyll/ Mr. Hyde in this year's UIL OAP production of Chemical Imbalance for which he was named to the Zone B Honorable Mention All-Star Cast and also named to the District 25 All-Star Cast for this year's contest season. Brady was also seen this past December in our 24 hour Musical production of ELF as the role of Walter Hobbs. This year Brady worked hard backstage as the Props Head for Footloose and was an Assistant Director for this year's Shakespeare in the Courtyard's production of Romeo and Juliet. In previous years, Brady has been seen on stage in Stuart Little, Legally Blonde, Comedy of Errors and our virtual Comedy and Improv Showcase. Brady has been one of the voices of the Cedar Ridge Morning Announcements this year as he cheerfully delivers the news and announcements for our campus each morning. You can often find Brady helping others brainstorm ways to make tricky props or to organize the theatre department into a more manageable place. While Assistant Directing Romeo and Juliet Brady helped lead warm-ups, take notes, and took time to encourage and rehearse with the junior actors. Brady has a great sense of humor and has been truly dedicated to the Cedar Ridge Theatre Department the past four years. We are proud to name him this month's Senior Theatre Student of the Month!
April 2022
Dance: Marielena Ramirez, 9thMarielena is thoughtful, and eager to learn in class. We appreciate her hard work and determination. Piano: Emma Torres, 9thEmma always brings a smile to the classroom, and is a role model piano student. Her hard work allows her to play challenging music. Keep it up! Orchestra: Vinathi Potireddy, 9thVinathi is a freshman violist in Symphony Orchestra. She has made many achievements in Orchestra during her first year at Cedar Ridge. She auditioned for and made Region Orchestra last fall, and this spring she earned a '1' on her class I solo performance at UIL Solo and Ensemble, qualifying her for Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest in May. Vinathi is a kind student who is a leader in her section, and has been a strong asset to our program. Congratulations, Vinathi! Band: Aydin Hardy, 9thAydin has shown himself to be a hardworking, reliable, and caring member of the band. He has quickly become one of the best players in his section and uses his talent to uplift and improve his peers. He treats his peers and teachers with respect, and always brings a positive energy to whatever situation he enters. Choir: Emily Furrer, 9thEmily has come into the choral program strong! As a 9th grade student she has already been in Region Choir, received a 1 on her UIL solo, and has shown exceptional leadership in her choir (Bel Canto). She also has a beautiful voice and strong skills. Emily is a proactive and positive leader and we are looking forward to all she will do in the future! Art: Catherine Le, 9thCatherine works very hard every class to reach her potential and exceeds all Drawing lesson expectations. She is a role model for her class and her artwork is a huge inspiration for her peers. Her artwork is routinely displayed at campus and district art displays to represent CRHS. I can't wait to see everything she creates in the future. Theatre: Anthony Casey, 9thAnthony Casey is a freshman theatre student who has seized any and all opportunities offered to him during his first year at Cedar Ridge. He was a featured dancer in this year’s musical, Footloose, while also being involved in Theatre at the Ridge’s acting track. He is a joy to work with both in rehearsals and in the classroom. Anthony is always prepared for class and has a positivity that is infectious to those around him. He is a determined student, a talented performer, a committed actor, and an all around great guy. In addition to the hours he has devoted to theatre over the months, Anthony has also been a member of the Cedar Ridge Soccer team this year. He has managed to juggle it all as a freshman and has never missed a beat. We are blessed to have him in the Cedar Ridge theatre department and look forward to watching him grow in the years ahead.
March 2022
Dance: Carolina Arana, 10thCarolina is currently in Jazz 1 and Modern 2 this year. She is a hard working and disciplined dancer even through injuries and is a ray of sunshine in dance class. She is a kind and thoughtful individual who goes out of her way to uplift her classmates through positivity and encouraging words. The dance dept is very lucky to have a student such as her! Music Theory: Hiwot Zenebe, 10thHiwot is a wonderful student in AP Music Theory class. She does a great job staying on top of her work and persevering. She is passionate about music! Piano: Andres Paz, 10thAndres has a wonderful passion for the piano and is a very hard worker in class. He strives to do his best, and is always polite at the same time. Way to go! Orchestra: Julian Rivera, 10thJulian Rivera is a Sophomore in the Orchestra. He does double-duty, playing both the violin in Camerata Orchestra and the viola in Concert orchestra. Julian is a student who adds so much to our orchestras through his musicianship and his character. Congratulations, Julian! Art: Hannah Kilpatrick, 10thHannah has quietly become one of the strongest Art 1 students in the Cedar Ridge visual art program. She has created wonderous things in multiple media- ceramics, sculpture, drawing, collage, etc. Hannah has been a steady positive influence in her Art 1 class period. I look forward to seeing what other amazing things she will create in the future. Choir: Kristodea Mensah-Peprah, 10thKristo has been a consistent leader in Concert Choir since day one. She is an excellent alto, with strong skills and an ever-positive and helpful attitude. Kristo makes a real difference in the ensemble as a musician and as a person. Many thanks! Theatre: Henry Leahy, 10thHenry Leahy is a sophomore technical theatre student and has worked constantly throughout this school year to learn as much as he can about technical theatre. In the fall, Henry jumped into the theatre season as a hallway technician for The Original Zombie Experience. Henry then became a technician for our children's show, Twelve Dancing Princesses, where he could be found anywhere in the auditorium. Henry is extremely proactive and asks the other student technicians how things work. You could find Henry learning about projections, moving set pieces, and assisting with running sound. Henry moved into our next production, the 24 Hour Musical, Elf, as a microphone and backstage technician. You could find Henry helping paint signs, building platforms, and organizing the microphone table. When we arrived back to school in January, Henry worked on microphones and as a backstage technician on the musical, Footloose. Henry was a constant force on the moving stair unit and assisted any technical area with any support they may need.Henry is now currently serving as the Stage Manager for our upcoming Shakespeare production of Romeo and Juliet. Even with his Shakespeare rehearsal schedule, Henry has swung by the One Act Play, Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play, rehearsals to assist the backstage technicians with whatever tasks they need to complete. Henry is an extremely dedicated and supportive individual who always offers a helpful hand. Henry has grown quickly throughout his second year in the technical theatre program at Cedar Ridge and we can't wait to see what he will execute in the future! Band: Elyssa Rey, 10thElyssa Rey has been recognized as a top achiever in the percussion section and has been moving above and beyond in all aspects of percussion and band preparation. She has also been a strong band/percussion organizer and manager. We are extremely appreciative of her hard work and dedication to the Cedar Ridge band program.
February 2022
Choir: Audrey Hunt, 11thAudrey is an accomplished singer who has worked hard for all the success she has had. Audrey practices tirelessly and consistently works on improving her skills. Last month Audrey advanced to the TMEA All-State Choir Area round of auditions as a Sopranno 1 alternate. The competition in the Soprano section, especially, is very tough. Audrey distinguished herself as one of the top sopranos in the District, Region and Area. She is an outstanding member of Chorale and Headliners. Audrey will be performing a piece in German by Mozart at the UIL Solo & Ensemble contest this month. Music Theory: Abhinav Akavaram, 11thAbhinav is a wonderful student in AP Music Theory class. He is attentive, asks questions, and works well with his peers. His passion for music is clear, and he does a great job as a role model. Keep it up! Piano: Andrea Armendariz, 11thAndrea is always well-prepared with her piano practicing and completed assignments. She is dedicated to striving for excellence in piano skills. Andrea is an inspiration to her piano classmates. Orchestra: Kristin Jeon, 11thKristin is a Junior violinist in the Philharmonic Orchestra. Kristin joined the Cedar Ridge community this year and has excelled in our orchestra program, even while adjusting to life in the U.S. Kristin recently participated in UIL Solo and Ensemble contest. She memorized a Class I solo and earned a '1' on her performance, which qualifies her to perform at Texas State Solo and Ensemble contest this coming May. Kristin is also a very kind student who exudes positive energy. We are so proud of you, Kristin! Band: Alec Avon Ruden, 11thAlec is always reliable and professional. He has started to lead his section and push them to greater levels of musicianship. Theatre: Julia Almendra, 11thJulia Almendra is a junior theatre student who always reaches new heights in whatever role she is given in the Cedar Ridge theatre program. As a performer, she lights up the stage with her talents and infectious energy. She is an incredible vocalist and musician, a fantastic dancer, and an extremely gifted actor. Julia Almendra truly is a triple threat! She has performed in numerous productions at Cedar Ridge including Legally Blonde, Fame, and last year's children's production of Arabian Nights. Recently, she was featured as Jovie in our 24 Musical Production of Elf before taking center stage this past January as a featured dancer in FOOTLOOSE. She is also extremely involved behind the scenes and has served on our Theatre Production costume crew the past two years. She has helped design costumes for multiple musical productions, last year's Shakespeare in the Courtyard, and this year's children's show production of Twelve Dancing Princesses. In addition to balancing her theatre responsibilities at school, she is also a devoted member of the Heart Song Dance Company with the Greater Austin Dance Academy. Julia is a true gem in the theatre department. She radiates joy and compassion to all those who know her and we are delighted to celebrate her this month for her commitment to Theatre at the Ridge! Dance: Ava Sparks, 11thAva is so supportive of friends and teammates, and has been working incredibly hard in both dance class and team practices. Art: Nayla Diab, 11thNayla Diab is an amazing student artist who is very attentive to instruction and to detail. Nayla came to my class with a strong foundation of drawing skills and has continued to push herself on each work of art to outdo her previous. In her sophomore year, she advanced to the State VASE competition with her self-portrait drawing. This year she is proudly defending her title by advancing both of her artworks to the State VASE competition that will take place in April. Nayla excels in her focus, attention to detail and her motivation to compete with others and more importantly with herself. I am very proud of her and I cannot wait to see what she will do next. It has been my honor and pleasure to have her as a student in my drawing classes for the past 2 years.
January 2022
Piano: Brandon Guerrero, 12thBrandon is a role model student in piano class. He works hard and is an excellent mentor for his peers around him. Brandon is consistently polite and perseverant, and has a wonderful passion for music! Keep up the great work! Orchestra: Tiernee Pitts, 12thTiernee is a Senior violinist in the Symphony Orchestra. In her four years at Cedar Ridge, she has consistently performed at a high level but has also challenged herself to improve as a musician. Over the years, she has moved up three orchestras into Symphony Orchestra and has also participated in UIL Solo and Ensemble. Tiernee is a reliable, exemplary student and we are proud to have her in our program. We are excited to see where she goes after graduation! Congratulations, Tiernee! Dance: Faiza Mohammed, 12thFaiza has been a dance student all four years at Cedar Ridge. She is a standout student in known for her dedication and ability to shine in performances. Art: Aihan Nguyen, 12thAihan is the consummate senior art student- she is focused on content and message within her well-executed, highly technical artwork and she leads others naturally. Despite her very busy schedule, she arrives, works hard, communicates well and excels while doing it all. Band: Zachary Brown, 12thZachary was just recognized for the second time as a Texas All-State musician, placing him in the top 4% of student musicians in the state of Texas. Zachary is a saxophone player and earned this recognition through a rigorous audition process that began back in late July. He auditioned on tenor saxophone, and this recognition makes him one of the best 8 tenor saxophonists in the state. Zach is the first Cedar Ridge band member to qualify for All-State on two different instruments! He did this while undergoing preparation for the Midwest Clinic in Chicago AND leading a record-breaking marching season as a drum major. Theatre: Myles Nzoiwu, 12thMyles Nzoiwu has been a shining star in the Cedar Ridge Theatre Department the past four years. Myles wowed the department early on with his enthusiasm and positive energy which earned him a Ridgee award his freshman year. He has always shown a true commitment and passion for Theatre, and has been in the musical all four years of high school. This month he will be featured as one of the leads, Williard, in our upcoming production of Footloose. Along with his joyous singing and dancing across the stage, Myles has been seen in our Children's Show Stuart Little as Stuart's older brother George and in The Comedy of Errors as the hilarious Dromio of Ephesus. Last year he starred in our UIL One Act Play, Baby with the Bathwater, as the role of Daisy which earned him the honor of being named to the Zone All Star Cast and the District Honorable Mention cast. Along with his accolades and awards, Myles is a student who we see actively working to improve himself and hone in on his talents. Each year his growth as an artist has grown exponentially. He has worked hard to gain that growth by joining the Cedar Ridge Choir this year and he was also accepted into the prestigious Pre-Professional Company at Zach Scott Theatre to further his training. Myles is a true joy to be around and he never fails every day to make people laugh! He is a student who people put their trust into and can always make a situation better by cracking a joke, making a face or doing something ridiculous. Along with his roles on stage, Myles has actively helped out behind the scenes on all of our shows and no matter what we have asked of him, he has done his best to excel at it and has been a true team player. Choir: Christine Tomydas, 12thChristine is a fearless member of the alto section! She always knows her stuff. If she doesn't, she figures it out and finds a solution herself. Her independence, maturity, and resourcefulness are unmatched. Christine is very perceptive and brings much appreciated accuracy and musicality into the alto section.Christine is an incredibly valuable member of the Choir Council and someone we can always count on. She's also a heck of a great person!
December 2021
Dance: Marielena Ramirez, 9thMarielena is a bright and enthusiastic person and this shines through her performance in class. She is often seen helping other students and encouraging others to their best. AP Music Theory: Malu Camargo, 9thMalu is a role model student in AP Music Theory class. She demonstrates a great passion for music, and she is a joy to have in class! Piano: Jack Mick, 9thJack is an excellent student in Beginner Piano class. He demonstrates a great passion for the instrument, is always polite, and has wonderful perseverance. Keep it up! Art: Kiley Holder, 9thKiley is a model visual art student. Kiley is conscientious of creating high quality work- often times working independently outside of class in order to create top-notch designs in clay. Hyper-focused on the task at hand, Kiley is often startled when I appear over her shoulder, observing her artistic process in class. Band: Maddie Virgne, 9thMaddie has acclimated to the Cedar Ridge Band program incredibly well. With our State Finalist schedule, she maintained perfect attendance all season. She shows up prepared, stays for extra rehearsals, and loves the flute. We are excited to see her potential over the next three years. Choir: Joseph Valasagandla, 10thJoseph has been a fantastic leader throughout the fall semester, working hard as part of the the Choir Council, as a section leader, and a team leader for "Team DO". Joseph is a member of Chorale and Headliners. He recently made it through the District, Region, and Pre-Area auditions and is going on to audition for All-State in Waco next month. Theatre: Bailey Henry, 9thWe are proud to announce Bailey Henry as theatre student of the month! Bailey is a freshmen technical theatre student who is involved in our theatre production class. Bailey is the only freshmen in our production class due to her work ethic and various contributions to our theatre department thus far. Bailey has entered the theatre program with the goal of being a stage manager. She began her high school theatre experience with our October production of The Zombie Experience as one of our technician heads. She then moved into her role as spotlight operator for our fall production of Twelve Dancing Princesses. Bailey is extremely dependable and takes initiative to learn from all those around her. We are excited to see what work comes from Bailey as she grows throughout the program! Orchestra: Mia Lam, 9thMia is a freshman violinist in Symphony Orchestra who has excelled in our program this year. Mia auditioned for and earned a spot in the TMEA Region 26 Orchestra. She also participated in TMEA All-State Auditions. At our Winter Concert, we are performing Vivaldi's Winter and she is the soloist for third movement. Just one of these things would be impressive for a 9th grade orchestra student, much less all three things! Mia not only excels musically, but she is also an extremely reliable and respectful member of the orchestra. We are proud to have Mia in our program here at Cedar Ridge. Congrats!
November 2021
Piano/Music Theory:Diego Carlin, 10thDiego is a role model student in AP Music Theory and Piano classes. He has a wonderful work ethic, with a great passion for music. He is always polite and kind towards his teachers and peers. Keep up the great work! Art: Xavier Rentas, 10thXavier Rentas is one of the hardest working art students at Cedar Ridge HS and has had to overcome many obstacles in life. He is driven and talented and that combination creates beautiful artwork that is unique and creative. He is a leader and through his actions he inspires his peers in Advanced Drawing. Dance: Karen Marrufo Gomez, 10thKaren is a lovely addition to Dance 2. She is hardworking and dedicated to learning all different dance styles. She is a strong dancer and a great representation of the dance department. Band: Reece Ababao, 10thReece has exemplified the tenets of "Live With Integrity" and "Strive For Excellence" in his time with the Raider Band so far. Despite the intensive hours of competitive marching band, he can be found practicing his instrument with friends for fun on his days off. Orchestra: Diego Villanueva, 10thDiego is a sophomore violinist in the Camerata Orchestra. He is a strong musician and leader in his class. Diego regularly attends sectionals and also challenges himself by learning advanced parts for our concerts. He is also a member of the band, and has managed his time very well between band and orchestra. Congratulations, Diego! Theatre: Senna Godbold, 10thSenna Godbold is an all-star student in the Cedar Ridge theatre department. Senna is a sophomore theatre student who excels in many different facets within Theatre at the Ridge. Senna is ALWAYS willing to help on any production whether she's in it or not and is extremely kind and supportive to her peers and directors. Senna actively strives everyday to see how she can improve on her craft or ways she can help other people. During her freshman year, Senna volunteered to help with our Movie Nights even though she wasn't even in our production class. Senna also volunteered to be on the run crew for our musical Fame last year, despite not even being enrolled in a tech class and knowing it would take up part of her summer break. No matter what task has been asked of her, Senna has done her best to excel at it. Her dedication to theatre and her desire to learn has made her an invaluable member of our department. We are so excited to see Senna perform in our upcoming Children's Show, Twelve Dancing Princesses, as Elsa. She will also be dancing and singing on our stage this January in Footloose. We look forward to seeing how Senna will continue to shine in our department this year and for years to come! Choir: Taniah Hughes, 12thTaniah is a 4 year member of the CRHS Choirs. This month Taniah worked tirelessly to plan and coordinate contestants for the Cedar Ridge Voice competition. Taniah created the idea, made a plan, and put her "all into it". Taniah, you gave a great gift to the Choir Program and the whole school community. Thank you for your generosity and dedication.
October 2021
Choir: Tristin Dean, 11thTristin has been a tireless champion for the Choirs this year. She is singing with Headliners and Chorale, is an officer on the Choir Council, and recently moved up to the next round of Region Choir auditions. Tristin is a wonderful alto who works hard and is always striving to grow as a musician.She is a positive force and a lot of fun to work with! We appreciate all the time and energy she gives to make things better for everyone. Piano/Music Theory: Ginny Spiotto, 11thGinny is a role model student in AP Music Theory, Music and Media Communications, and Piano classes. She not only demonstrates incredible musical knowledge, but also a wonderful passion for performing and composing music as well! She is very kind and helpful towards everyone. Keep up the awesome work, Ginny! Dance: Makenzie Ciernia, 11thMakenzie has a strong work ethic in and out of the classroom. She embodies drive and determination and consistently pushes herself in class. She is a wonderful asset to the dance program. Theatre: Victoria Butler, 11thVictoria Butler is an all star theatre student at Cedar Ridge. She has been a dedicated member of the theatre department the past three years and is a junior. Victoria is a joy to work with on stage and behind the scenes. Her work ethic, good nature, and sense of humor make her a leader in our department. There is no task that is too large or too small for Victoria. No matter what we have asked of her, she has done her best to excel at it. Whether it is creating Zombie promos or movie trailers, to working on the costume crew or behind the scenes, Victoria is always there to help. Victoria even used to come up to help with build days when she was in middle school! Victoria has performed on the Cedar Ridge stage in Mamma Mia! and Fame. She was also featured in our 2020 Virtual Children's Production of The Arabian Nights. Last year, Victoria shined in Theatre at the Ridge's Comedy and Improv showcase as one of our stand up comedians and as Dora the Explorer. This past summer she played the role of Sharpay in RRISD's summer musical production of High School Musical. We look forward to seeing how Victoria will continue to grow this year in the theatre department! Band: Ashok Shaji, 11thAshok is a model for work ethic, passion, and commitment. His efforts as a member and leader with the Raider Band have left an indelible mark on his peers, helping push them to new levels of performance and camaraderie. Orchestra: Julianna Pena, 11thJulianna is a cellist in Symphony Orchestra. She has been very involved as an officer this year, helping to plan activities and getting to know new students. Julianna is the type of student who jumps in to help when she sees a need without having to be asked to. She is also a strong musician, balancing her time between orchestra and band without missing a beat. Congrats, Julianna! Art: Kate "KC" Portillo, 11thKC is a triple threat of an artist- equally skilled in producing insightful, beautifully crafted 3-D artwork, 2-D pieces and digital work as well. KC puts in extraordinary time and effort into these creative endeavors and continues to impress with every round of novel creation.
September 2021
Orchestra: Paul Furrer, 12thPaul is a Senior violinist in the Symphony Orchestra. He is a phenomenal musician and a reliable member of the orchestra. During his time at Cedar Ridge he has been a member of the Region Orchestra and has also performed at Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest. Paul also serves the orchestra as our Historian and has been very involved in back-to-school events. Well done, Paul! Dance: Mariana Diaz, 12thMariana is super helpful and encouraging in class. She works hard and is an excellent role model in the dance studio. Band: Jacob Otchis, 12thJacob has consistently demonstrated the highest level of integrity, compassion, and excellence in band. He is constantly seen leading his peers towards greater performance or growth in spirit. He exemplifies what it means to be a member of the Raider Band. Piano: Ayden Kinney, 11thAyden is always well-prepared in advanced piano class, because he keeps on top of assignments and practicing. Music Theory: Ethan Do, 12thEthan is doing a wonderful job in AP Music Theory class. He participates well, actively listens, and is a great role model for those around him! Choir: Matthew Collis, 12thMatthew was a later addition to the choral program last year when he joined us as a Junior. In a very short period of time, he has grown to be an outstanding member of Chorale and Headliners, a fantastic musical leader, and a seriously positive force in the CRHS Choirs! We are grateful to Matthew for all the time and care he gives to growing as a musician, and for his generosity of spirit in encouraging others to do the same. Thank you, Matthew, for your work ethic, creativity, and for contributing so strongly to our choral ensembles. Art: Jillian Rounds, 12thJillian is our all star student in Spring receiving a "5" rating in AP Drawing, her work went to State competition last year all in a pandemic school year. This year she is in AP 2-D drawing class with an exceptional positive attitude, a determined work ethic, impressive work that is admired by so many! You can see (2) pieces of her work in the gallery from her AP Drawing portfolio. I am so proud of Jillian!!Theatre: Adam Markus, 12thAdam Markus is a dedicated and extremely knowledgeable theatre technician in the Cedar Ridge theatre department. He is always there to help set-up for rehearsals and is often one of the last to leave. He is extremely talented working with projections, editing videos, running sound, or anything else that is needed for a production. Over the past four years, Adam has worked on over 30 shows for Theatre at the Ridge. He is well respected by his peers and directors for his incredible work ethic and ability to problem solve. Words alone cannot express our sincere gratitude for all of the time he has committed to this program over the years. Adam is such a unique and valuable technician. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for him his senior year.
May 2021
Choir: Sasha Perez, 10thSasha has been dedicated to doing the work every single class period for the entire year. The consistency and encouragement she provided to her fellow Choir members made a real difference. Sasha set an impeccable example of what it means to be a member of an ensemble. Her leadership and commitment have been highly valued and appreciated!! Art: Hallie Burns, 12thHallie has been a tremendous help as the unofficial ceramics student aide this year; Hallie's skill-set and ability level as a sculptor and a potter have improved even further from her penultimate year in Cedar Ridge art. I fully expect to see her work as a practicing potter, sculptor and illustrator in the near future. Dance: Lillian Marquez, 12thLillian is engaged and active in class. She works hard and is committed to working and developing her skills. Music Theory: Allison Lazaga, 11thAllison is a role model student in AP Music Theory class. She has also demonstrated her talent in numerous other music classes, including her incredible composition skills in Music & Media Communications, and wonderful performances in Piano. Way to go, Allison! Band: Elaina Sharp, 12thElaina has always served the band program as an outstanding leader and musician. She is a gifted saxophone student and did her job as "Visual Tech" very well the past three years. She always brings a positive, can-do attitude and helps her peers strive to be the best version of themselves day in and day out. Orchestra: Shilo Tuck, 12thShilo is a senior violist in the Symphony Orchestra. For the last four years Shilo has been an asset to the orchestra program at Cedar Ridge. She consistently produces quality work, participates in extra rehearsals, and also serves the orchestra as an officer. Congratulations, Shilo! Theatre: Ryan Chudy, 12thRyan Chudy is a senior theatre student who has been actively involved in the theatre department the past four years. This year he is serving as Co-Vice President for the Cedar Ridge Thespian Troupe, Opening Knights. He has also been featured in numerous roles on the stage over the years including this year's Shakespeare show Comedy of Errors. This year he played the role of John in Cedar Ridge's UIL One-Act Play, Baby With the Bathwater, where he was named to the Zone B and Bi-District All-Star casts. Ryan was also named Best Actor in our UIL District competition. His unique sense of humor always keeps the theatre department entertained, and we appreciate his contributions to our tech program this season behind the scenes. It is with great joy that we name Ryan Chudy the theatre student of the month!
April 2021
Band: Chase Cortez, 9thIn a year filled with uncertainty and optional attendance, Chase Cortez has shown up and gone beyond what was expected of him as a freshman. He participated in marching band, joined the Saxophone Choir, and has been an incredibly teachable human. We are excited to have him and see his growth over the next three years. Art: Brighton Noble, 9thBrighton Noble is an absolute pleasure to have as a student in his upper level drawing class. Although he has been virtual all year, he is usually one of the first students to sign into the online conference, making his presence warmly felt each and every day by giving me and his classmates a welcoming greeting. Brighton has perfect attendance for the year and has completed every assignment, on time, with flawless execution. As a freshman artist, he is extremely advanced in his artistic skills and maturity. Brighton recently entered artwork into the regional VASE competition and has been selected by the judges to move on to the state level competition next month. Because of his hard work, dedication, and lively personality, everything Brighton touches turns to gold. That is why I am proud to select Brighton Noble as the Cedar Ridge student artist of the month! Orchestra: Colin Plummer, 9thColin is a freshman bassist in the Camerata Orchestra. As a musician, he provides a solid foundation for other students during class. Colin always turns in high-quality work, and is quick to learn new techniques. He has also been actively involved in our after-school rehearsals. Congratulations on earning Student of the Month for April! Piano: Diego Tiessen, 10thDiego is a role model student. His talent shines through in not only piano, but in band as well. His perseverance and wonderful work ethic are to be admired. Diego is enthusiastic about his music, and always polite! Theatre: Rhys Utterback, 9thRhys Utterback has been a wonderful addition to the Cedar Ridge theatre department this year. He is eager to learn and always seeking opportunities for growth as both a performer and a technician. He is well prepared for class each day and is a joy to work with in rehearsals. He always has a smile on his face whether working backstage or performing for an audience. Rhys came to our rescue this year and volunteered to run lights for our UIL One-Act Play production of Baby With the Bathwater. He was named our Outstanding Technician for the District contest and we are so grateful that he had the chance to share his talents with us. Rhys will be making his stage debut at Cedar Ridge in June where he will be featured in our musical production of FAME. We are blessed to have him at Cedar Ridge and we look forward to working with him for many years to come! Choir: Madeleine Robbe, 9thMaddie is a fantastic musician who joined the choir family this year. As a freshman she has already accomplished a great deal at UIL Solo & Ensemble and as one of very few freshmen in Chorale (the varsity level ensemble). Dance: Faith Smyth, 9thFaith's positive energy lights up the class. She has been an outstanding dance 1 who has done well in the virtual and in-person learning environment.
March 2021
Art: Emma Patmon, 10thEmma is a consistent hard worker and always ready to take risks in her artwork which really pays off for the end result. Her ideas come across clearly and creatively. Music and Media: Joao (John) Camargo, 10thJohn is an extremely talented individual, producing music compositions that show off his incredible creativity for Music and Media Communications class. He also demonstrates his great knowledge of music in AP Music Theory class. He is a wonderful role model to other students! Music Theory: Celine Lowe, 10thCeline is a very hard worker and demonstrates great intelligence in AP Music Theory class. Her positive attitude and wonderful work ethic make her a joy to be around, and she is a great role model to other students! Dance: Erin Campos, 10thErin is a wonderful student in Jazz 1. She is hardworking, attentive and a joy to have in class! Orchestra: Lucas Pizzirani, 10thLucas is a sophomore violinist in the Philharmonic Orchestra. He serves the entire orchestra program as the Philharmonic Representative, devoting extra time to help make meaningful events for orchestra members. He is also very engaged and involved during class, and went above and beyond to perform a solo at UIL Solo and Ensemble this year. Lucas was an easy pick for March Student of the Month. Congratulations, Lucas! Theatre: Scout Hutchinson, 10thScout Hutchinson is a dedicated member of the Cedar Ridge theatre department. Her talents as a singer, dancer and actress shine while on stage, but it is her work ethic off the stage that stands out to her directors and peers. Scout always seizes the opportunity to perform and never shies away from a challenge. Her determination, self-motivation, and encouragement of others makes working with Scout in class and rehearsals truly enjoyable. She has been actively involved in both our straight acting and musical theatre programs the past two years. Scout was featured this year as the role of Princess Perizade in this year's children's production of The Arabian Nights. She was also a featured dancer in last year's award winning production of Legally Blonde and will be playing the role of Iris in this year's musical production of Fame. Scout is currently preparing to take the stage as Nanny in this year's UIL One-Act Play production of Baby With the Bathwater. In addition to her accomplishments at Cedar Ridge, Scout is also a member of Zach Theatre's Pre-Professional Musical Theatre Training Program in Austin. We are proud to select Scout Hutchinson as Theatre at the Ridge's 10th grade fine arts student of the month! Band: Celine Lowe, 10thCeline is an incredible student and musician in the Raider Band program. She's one of those students you can depend on. She always has a smile on her face and always brings a positive, can-do attitude to whatever we are working on in the band program. We're looking forward to seeing what the next few years have in store for her! Congrats, Celine! Choir: Audrey Hunt, 10thAudrey is an outstanding music student. She has an exquisite voice and a natural sense of musicianship and leadership that make a tremendous difference in the CRHS Choirs. Audrey is a member of both Chorale and Headliners this year. She was accepted into the Region 26 Choir, and she will be singing a Level 1 solo for the UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest at the end of March. Her soprano voice is a truly impressive instrument, and she has the work ethic, skills and artistry to back it up! Audrey is completely humble and generous in the way she collaborates with her fellow singers. You couldn't ask for anyone easier or more fun to work with. Audrey is a great soloist, but she is also loves to sing with others and is an excellent ensemble singer. She is comfortable singing a wide variety of musical styles including Classical, Jazz, and Broadway. We are looking forward to all the great music Audrey will make at Cedar Ridge!
February 2021
Band: Zach Brown, 11thZach was just recognized as a Texas All-State musician, placing him in the top 4% of student musicians in the state of Texas. Zach is a saxophone player and earned this recognition through a rigorous audition process that began back in late July. He auditioned on baritone saxophone, and this recognition makes him one of the best 12 baritone saxophonists in the state. On top of this recent achievement, Zach is an incredibly well-rounded student at Cedar Ridge High School and we're excited to see what his future holds! Dance: Melissa Mixon, 11thMel has been such an active participant in her dance class. She is engaged and is a brilliant leader within the class. Music Theory: Madeleine (Maddie) Kelley, 11thMaddie is a wonderful role model in Music Theory class. She continuously shows active participation and incredible musical talent. She is a joy to have in class! Orchestra: Caleb Merritt, 11thCaleb is a Junior violinist in the Philharmonic Orchestra. He has shown huge improvement as a musician over the last few years. Caleb has also participated in UIL Solo and Ensemble every year of high school, and will be playing a solo this month. Congrats, Caleb! Choir: Andrew Wolfmueller, 12thAndrew has been singing in Chorale and Headliners for the past two years. He moved from Colorado to Texas at the start of his junior year, and the CRHS Choirs have not been the same ever since! Andrew is a fantastic musician with strong skills, great instincts, and a ton of innate musical ability. He is an excellent baritone who sings with accuracy and consistency, as well as expressiveness. Andrew brings a spirit of optimism and kindness to everything he does. He has a very natural and impressive way of combining serious work and fun that helps us all keep our balance. Theatre: Myles Nzoiwu, 11thMyles Nzoiwu has been an active member of Theatre at the Ridge for the past three years. His outgoing personality and infectious energy make rehearsals and class truly enjoyable for everyone. He is a hard worker and always eager to try new things. He is not afraid to take risks as a performer and is a delight to watch on stage. Myles is also active in our Thespian Troupe and is an officer of Opening Knights. Myles never ceases to surprise us in the theatre wing as he continues to grow his talents whether that be as an actor, a singer, or even learning to play the piano. Myles will be playing the role of Daisy in this year's UIL One-Act Play production of Baby With the Bathwater. He will also be playing the role of Dromio of Ephesus in this year's Shakespeare production, Comedy of Errors, before joining the cast in this year's musical production of FAME. Art: Helen Truong, 11thHelen has shown enormous dedication to her work in class, craftmanship in projects are at a very high level, creative and just plain AWESOME!!! The entire art team loves her work!!
January 2021
Band:Abhay Khanna , 12thAbhay is an incredible student in the Raider Band program. As a bassoonist, Abhay was ranked as the 7th-best bassoon high school player in the state of Texas last year. During marching season, he performs on the drumline on the bass drum. He just placed first chair in the December 2020 All-Region audition, recognizing him as the best bassoonist in RRISD, PfISD, etc. He plans to attend Vanderbilt University next year as a double major in music and medicine. Piano:Bruce Casillas, 12thBruce is an outstanding piano student and overall musician. Bruce performed Rhapsody in G Minor, Op. 79, No. 2 by Johannes Brahms for his fall 2020 piano recital piece (memorized). Bruce really challenges himself and strives for excellence in every endeavor. Orchestra:Eleanor Perks, 12thEllie is a senior violist in the Symphony orchestra. Her schedule did not allow her to be in this class, so she is scheduled in Concert orchestra and learns the Symphony music on her own. On top of that, Ellie is preparing movements from a Bach cello suite for UIL Solo and Ensemble and has also been a phenomenal help as an officer. Ellie is a true asset to the Cedar Ridge Orchestra! Dance:Molly Bowden, 12thMolly is an excellent dance student. She is thoughtful, kind and hardworking. She is a pleasure to have in class! We appreciate her dedication to our dance program for the past 3 years Art:Danka Latorre, 12thDanka is an AP 2-D art student who has worked on her impressive AP portfolio and has recently been accepted to two impressive art colleges and has her work published in a magazine.
Theatre:Halle Utterback, 12thHalle Utterback is a senior theatre and musical theatre student. While Halle has only been involved with Theatre at the Ridge the past two years, she has dedicated her time and energy to this program while seizing each and every performance opportunity. Last year she was featured on stage as Snowbell in our children's production of Stuart Little and also served as the Dance Captain for Legally Blonde. This year she will be playing the role of Ms. Bell in our upcoming musical production of Fame while also serving as the assistant choreographer. Halle's upbeat personality and positive outlook are infectious to those around her. We have been blessed to have her at Cedar Ridge these two short years! Choir:Amylin Fajardo, 12thAmylin has been a dedicated member of the CRHS choral program since her freshman year. Amy is a versatile singer, who can sing beautifully and expressively in different styles. Her musicianship skills are outstanding, and she has always been a leader by demonstrating how to do the work required of a musician. Amy has represented Cedar Ridge extremely well over the years at UIL and TMEA events. Now, as a senior Amy is one of the Choir co-presidents. As always, she is giving a tremendous amount of time and energy to make the Choirs stronger, while she continues to work on her own musical goals. Thanks for being you, Amy! You make things better for all of us!
December 2020
Choir: Abigail Russell, 9thFrom the very start of her freshman year, Abigail has been a tremendous addition to Cedar Ridge Choirs. She is in the advanced treble ensemble "Bel Canto", and she also made it into the Region Choir. This is an especially impressive honor for a freshman to achieve. Abigail is a very hard worker and a truly natural musician. She has very strong skills, a beautiful voice, and great musical instincts. We wish Abigail the best as she competes at the Pre Area level at the end of November. Thanks, Abigail, for the terrific work and contribution you've already made!! Dance:Kacy Monroe, 9thKacy Monroe is a wonderful dance student. She actively participates and has a genuine love for dance. She is a pleasure to teach and a wonderful spirit to have in class. Piano/Theory:Abigail Russell, 9thAbby is a wonderful student in AP Music Theory, with a great work ethic and terrific musical talent. She is a role model for her peers, demonstrating not only musical strength, but also great participation in class! Orchestra:Spencer Franz, 9thSpencer is a hard-working cellist in the Concert Orchestra. He consistently turns in quality work and has also been heavily involved in our after-school cello rehearsals. We are proud to have Spencer in our Orchestra program at Cedar Ridge! Art:Bethany "B" Simoneau, 9thB has perfect attendance to my class and has done an amazing job on each and every drawing assignment. He has tremendous artistic talent and he is a pleasure to have in class. Band:Fernando Rivera, 9thAs a freshman, Fernando is a stand-out marcher in the marching band. He has shown great drive and dedication and the improvement he has obtained as a result has been awesome to see! Congrats, Fernando! Theatre:Mara White, 9thMara White is one of our freshmen technicians this year. She is the only freshmen in our Theatre Production class. She was actively involved in making props for our production of Arabian Nights this fall and has volunteered to help with extra curricular responsibilities as well. We are excited to have Mara as a part of Theatre at the Ridge this year and look forward to working with her in the years ahead!
November 2020
Band: Payton Deaver , 10thPayton was an obvious choice as we considered which sophomore to recognize as our student of the month. Not only a great saxophone player, Payton serves the band in his role as the Saxophone Social Officer. In this role, Payton has gone above and beyond expectations to really seek out individuals and bring his section "together" as much as possible during this time where in-person interaction is very limited. He's been thoughtful and thorough and is a shining example of what young adults at Cedar Ridge High School are capable of achieving. Congrats, Payton! Art:Kate "KC" Portillo, 10thKC Portillo is a wildly imaginative and skilled young artist. Never short on creative design ideas, KC also possesses a dexterous skill set that allows for highly technical artistic products. KC works in both the 2-D and 3-D arenas- equally skilled in both disciplines. Piano/Theory:Brendan Garvin, 9thBrendan is a model piano student who consistently demonstrates a positive growth mindset and wonderful work ethic. He is a very polite and dedicated student with an incredible talent for the piano. Dance:Grace White, 10thGrace is a dedicated student who has taken two dance classes a year for the past two years. She was in our inaugural Modern class and has continued with this college prep class while also excelling in our Dance 2-4 class. Her bright energy and can-do attitude is a light in our classes. Orchestra:Chase Magadia, 12thChase, who plays viola in the Symphony, has been very involved in the orchestra throughout his high school career. This year he serves as our historian and has been active in helping with after-school rehearsals. In the past, Chase has participated in Champs, UIL Solo and Ensemble, and our many fundraisers. We appreciate Chase for all that he contributes to the orchestra! Choir:Aleah Burden, 10thAleah is an outstanding music student. She is one of few students to be in both Chorale and Headliners in her sophomore year. Aleah is also on the Choir Council and recently qualified for Region Choir . In the first round of the TMEA All State Choir auditions, Aleah came in 2nd chair for all of Region 26 in the highly competitive Soprano 1 Room. We are very proud of Aleah and are wishing her the best as she prepares to compete in the Pre Area Round in November. Thanks for representing Cedar Ridge so well, Aleah! Theatre:Raeya Garcia, 11thRaeya Garcia has been actively involved in almost every production produced by Theatre at the Ridge the last three years. She always goes above and beyond to ensure that things come together behind the scenes for a show whether it be as a sound designer, a video editor, or a stage manager. She is well respected by her peers, teachers and directors for her work ethic and leadership skills. This year she is serving as our musical theatre stage manager for Fame and Movies at the Ridge. We are so grateful to have Raeya involved with the CRHS theatre program as she shares her many talents with us. We appreciate Raeya for keeping us all organized and on our toes!
October 2020
Dance: Mariana Diaz , 11thShe has constantly been going above and beyond in class to guarantee she is doing things correct and improving. She is engaged and works hard each and every day. Mariana's positivity is contagious. Art:Jasmine Hanlin, 11thJasmine has been an exemplary student this month. Her creativity and talent is incredible! Orchestra:Tara Chatty, 11thTara is a hard-working student who always brings a positive attitude to rehearsals. As a freshman, she led the Philharmonic Orchestra as concertmaster, and has played violin in the Symphony Orchestra since her sophomore year. She has participated in Region Orchestra, UIL Solo and Ensemble, Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest, and Chamber Music in the Public Schools. She is also very involved with Cedar Ridge Tennis, but is always able to find a balance between both activities. We are lucky to have Tara in our Orchestra at Cedar Ridge! Choir:Kalieve Gaston-Ellis, 11thKalieve plays a vital role in our CRHS Choral program. He is an outstanding tenor who can sight-read like crazy, has a gorgeous tenor voice, works hard, and spreads positive vibes and good will amongst all our Choirs. Kalieve is in Chorale and Headliners, as well as on the Choir Council. His leadership and musicianship make a huge difference to everyone who sings with him and we want to honor his efforts, dedication and ability. Thank you, Kalieve!! Piano:Raymond Vu, 11thRaymond is always well-prepared for class, no matter what the piano performance assignment is. His scales and tech are as polished as the recital piece he is working on. Band:Matthew Woodland, 12thMatt is an outstanding student musician within the Raider Band program. He always brings a high-level of performance to the table and serves the band as one of our Drum Majors. Within his role he consistently sets the example for everyone in the band program while always staying positive. The band has been fortunate to have his leadership and we'll surely miss him next year after he graduates! Theatre:Adam Markus, 10thAdam Markus is one of the most eager and motivated students in our technical theatre program at Cedar Ridge. He is a problem solver and takes the initiative to find his purpose in whatever project is being created by Theatre at the Ridge. He is often our technology specialist and video editor. He has been extremely helpful with projections over the years and even put together a great back to school slideshow for us this year to celebrate a unique to start to the 2020 - 2021 school year. Adam is truly a wonderful student who is always yearning to learn more and try new things. We are excited to name him our theatre student of the month!
September 2020
Dance: Chantel Luna, 12thChantel has been involved in our Dance Department for all four years at Cedar Ridge. Her bright energy brings positivity to every class that she has been in. Chantel has been doing great throughout virtual learning and is a leader within the class. Congratulations Chantel! We love you! Band:Emma Carlson , 12thEmma is an incredible student musician and goes "above and beyond" to help the band program and her peers reach new heights! Colorguard:Hannah Saucedo, 12thHannah is an exceptional leader and Captain for the Colorguard. She is the first to share important information that has been sent out and maybe missed by the group. She is readily available for all questions from the team and/or new members. She approaches all tasks with a positive attitude and pushes herself as well as those around her to be the absolute best. Orchestra:Abena Ofori, 10thAbena has shown great commitment to improving as a violist. Last Spring she auditioned and moved from Camerata Orchestra to Concert Orchestra. This year she has taken the initiative to ask for help on playing quiz material before the quizzes are due. Not only does Abena have a great work ethic, she also has a great attitude! Piano:Adam Makowka, 12thAdam demonstrates consistent quality work in all of his music classes, including Music and Media Communications 1, Music and Media Communications 2, Music Theory 1, and AP Music Theory. He is an excellent role model for the other students, and continues to create musical compositions regularly which he shares with the class! Art:Hannah Mendlesohn, 12thHannah goes above and beyond the expectations of her AP Drawing Course and AP 3D Studio Art Course. She is incredibly artistically talented, very intelligent, and extremely hardworking. She will do amazing things this year! Choir:Collin Tomasek, 12thCollin has been busy singing this summer, continuing with voice lessons, preparing for auditions, and helping with leading music in his church. Collin is one of the co-presidents of the Choir and has been singing in Choirs at Cedar Ridge since his freshman year. As a senior, Collin is continuing to exhibit leadership and exceptional commitment to the program, to each choir, and to welcoming and encouraging every singer. Collin is a role model for how to approach the process of learning and growing into a skilled musician. Collin provides stability and a high standard of musicianship for everyone who sings with him. This is Collin's second year as a bass section leader in Chorale and as a member of Headliners. We truly appreciate all the time and effort Collin gives to the choral program and look forward to all he will do in his senior year! Theatre:Olivia Garcia, 12thOlivia Garcia is one of our amazing senior theatre students at Cedar Ridge High School. She is the co-president of the Opening Knights Thespian Troupe and is actively involved in our acting, musical theatre and tech programs. Over the years you may have seen her on stage as the Princess of Pure Reason in The Phantom Tollbooth or as a dancer in our musical productions of Grease and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Her junior year, Olivia was cast as a Delta Nu in our production of Legally Blonde, served as a company member for our UIL One-Act Play production of Big Love, and then played the role of Puck in our virtual production ofShakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. This year Olivia is serving as the stage manager for our upcoming virtual children's theatre production of The Arabian Nights and will be involved in our upcoming musical production of FAME. Olivia truly understands the importance of the work that goes into making a production come to life both on and off the stage. She has committed hundreds of hours both on and off the stage assisting with props, costumes, stage management duties, and various other tasks behind the scenes. Her dedication over the years is why we proudly nominate Olivia Garcia as our September Theatre at the Ridge Student of the Month.
March 2020
Art: Hallie Burns, 11thThere are few visual art students who worked harder than Hallie while getting her work ready for VASE and keeping her grades up for eligibility. Hallie shows a lot of initiative both inside and outside of class time to better her craft. She's a strong exemplar for other art students, while setting the bar pretty darn high for herself- and then clearing that bar by a mile. Dance: Sydney Stone, 11thSydney is a fantastic student in Jazz as well as the Royalty Dance Team. Serving our campus as a VPA Academy Ambassador, Sydney selfless gives her time to the dance department and VPA while also serving on COTA. Way to be an outstanding dancer and citizen! Music:Bruce Casillas, 11thBruce plays cello in the Symphony Orchestra. He is a fantastic musician and leader in our ensemble. Bruce was a member of the Region Orchestra last November, will be taking a solo and an ensemble to Texas State Solo and Ensemble in May, and he is a finalist in the Blackerby Young Artists Competition this month. We are so proud to have Bruce in our program here at Cedar Ridge!
February 2020
Art: Emily Herwitt, 10thEmily is a very talented and hard working young artist. She is very motivated and serious about her art, giving her full effort on each assigned project. Emily is in the process of building an incredible portfolio in her drawing II class and is set to participate in VASE later this month. Dance: Scotte Waits, 10thScotte has been apart of the dance department for the past two years taking Dance 1 and in the newest course, Modern Contemporary. She is passionate about Hip Hop, you can often find her at different hip hop conventions. Scotte has also initiated a Hip Hop dance club at Cedar Ridge. Music:Isabela Cardenas, 10thIsabela is a member of Cedar Ridge’s varsity choral ensembles Chorale and Headliners. She was selected for the 2019 Region Choir and is preparing to perform a Level 1 solo at the UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest. Isa is an exceptionally dedicated music student. She strives to grow artistically as an individual, while also prioritizing her passion for collaboration. Isa studies music with exceptional attention to detail and with commitment to excellence. Isa is uniquely versatile in that she can sing both soprano and alto, she values ensemble work as much as she does her endeavors as a soloist, and she is interested in a wide variety of musical styles. In any given moment, you don’t know if you will find Isa singing Classical, Broadway, or Jazz. Isa’s contribution to the CRHS choral program has been exceptional and we look forward to her future leadership.
January 2020
Art: Peyton Fletcher, 9thPeyton has excelled in Art 1 class with stellar projects, incredible work ethic, focus and upbeat attitude. She is also a member of National Art Honor Society whose design was selected for the t-shirt design for our yearly VASE t-shirt for the district. She's amazing!!!! Dance: Grace White, 9thGrace is a student in both Dance 1 and Modern/Contemporary and is simply a pleasure to be around. She works from bell to bell and constantly stays on top of her work. Can't wait to see her growth in our program! Music:Ashok Shaji, 9thAshok is a freshmen clarinetist in the Cedar Ridge Band. He auditioned for Region Orchestra and made the Region Band. He is incredibly receptive to critique and continues to improve because of it.
DECEMBER 2019
Art: Vy Huynh, 9thThe student is enormously talented in Art and works very hard. She has entered every competition offered since school started and is one of the most talented Drawing 1 students though she is only a Freshman. Dance: Ashlyn Harper, 9thAs a Freshman in our program, Ashlyn is in Jazz, Modern, and Drill Prep classes showing a total dedication to her improvement and investment in our program. She is such a pleasure to have in class and her smile can light up the room. So lucky to get to spend out days dancing with her!
NOVEMBER 2019
Art: Marissa Baker , 10thMarissa is excelling in one of the most difficult units in Ceramics I; she has produced top-quality sculpts all year. The visual art faculty has nothing but good things to say about Marissa- she is super responsible, is an exemplary student, a member of Nobility and an all-around kind person. Dance: Kristina Gonzales-Farve, 10thKristina is a bright and positive student who is very passionate about dance. As a sophomore she has been in a jazz class, dance education class where the students teach elementary students dance, our brand new modern class and a member of the Royalty dance team. We are so blessed to have her apart of the dance department. Music:Eliot Lam, 10th Eliot is a violinist in the Symphony Orchestra at CRHS. He auditioned for and made Region Full Orchestra, qualified to tape for All-State Orchestra, and made All-State Orchestra! He is a violinist in this year's All-State Sinfonietta Orchestra. This group will perform at the TMEA Convention in San Antonio on Saturday, February 15th, 2020 at 2:00 PM. Aside from leading musically, Eliot also serves the CRHS orchestra as Vice President. Theater: Sherlyn Diaz, 10th Sherlyn is in FOUR Theatre classes this year and has been doing an exceptional job in all of them especially assisting the Musical I students. She's even performing MULTIPLE ROLES in the Children's Theatre class which everyone should come see Nov. 14th at 6:30 and 8:00PM.
OCTOBER 2019
Music: Devon Carrizales, 11thDevon has demonstrated excellent initiative and hard work in piano class. He is consistently on time, on task, and strives to challenge himself with his musicianship. He is a great role model for other students! Dance: Ava Garza, 11thAva is a dedicated dancer who brings joy to every dance class she is in and encourages her peers with positive feedback. Art: Hannah Mendelsohn, 11thHannah has been absolutely amazing in my (Mr. Mitchell's) Drawing 3 class displaying superior artistic skills and abilities. She currently has a drawing on display in the Cedar Ridge gallery. Hannah has also been putting in extra time with Mrs. Soto and competed for 2nd place in the Round Rock Chalk walk this past weekend making her a clear choice for visual arts student of the month for October. Theater: Rachel Ledington, 11thRachel is one of our advanced technical theatre students who has excelled in lighting design and stage management at Cedar Ridge. She admirably balances her commitments to both band and theatre throughout the year without ever missing a beat. This year she is honorably serving as the stage manager for our musical production of Legally Blonde.
SEPTEMBER 2019
Music: Avery Robinson: 12th Avery has gone above and beyond in her role as a section leader helping the trombone players look and sound their best. She's an incredible student musician and is a great musical leader within the band program as well. Dance: Maria Lopez 12th Maria has at times take up to 3 dance courses and has participated in both Academy and Non-Academy classes. She is a 3 year student in our dance educators class and has made a huge impact on many young dancers lives. Art: Zak Caruthers 12th Zak is a multidisciplinary student of the visual arts, creating high-caliber artwork in both 2-D and 3-D art courses, all while serving as an exemplar of artistic process and discipline to other students. Theater: Alexa Echeverria, 12th Alexa has dedicated the last four years to the Cedar Ridge theatre department both as an actor and a technician. She is well respected by her peers and always goes above and beyond to ensure the success of a project or performance.