2025-2026 MHs Band and Choir Awards Presented

The Milbank High School Music Department presented the band and choir awards for the 2025-2026 school year during their spring concert on May 11.  

Yanderyn Olivares Zuniga was the 2025-2026 recipient of the John Phillip Sousa Award. The award  originated in 1954 and is the most prestigious award for high school band students who have demonstrated musicianship, leadership, dependability, and loyalty. 

Krista Nies received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award that is presented to a student whose participation in jazz band continues Mr. Armstrong’s desire for the true jazz sound. 

The Director’s Award for band went to Jasmine Tietjen.The Director’s Award for choir went to Elisabeth Sperry .The award recognizes an individual who assists the band/choir director and students with the overall program. 

Spirit of Marching Awards as voted on by classmates
Top Freshmen-Isabella Hicks and Colton Roark
Top Sophomore-Tate Pew
Top Juniors-Liam Street and Cody Wiik
Top Senior-Elyssa Tomac

Outstanding Choir Member as voted on by classmates
Outstanding Freshman-Colton Roark
Outstanding Sophomore-Belle Pauli
Outstanding Junior-Jack ter Denge

National School Choral Awards went to Ashlynn Batchelor, Camryn Sovell, and Garrett Weber. The award honors a female and a male singer in the senior class who have contributed most to the school vocal program with their singing ability and their enthusiasm for choral performance.

Bryton Blauert, Macy Mueller,and  Jack ter Denge will attend the 52nd Annual South Dakota Honor Choir from July 19-24 at Black Hills State University in Spearfish. Alternates are Sam Shelstad, and Preston Laskowske

The Arion Award- The oldest and most prestigious national award for outstanding achievement by high school musicians went to Anna Neugebauer 

Region 3 Large Group Contest Results: MHS Band (3 superiors): MHS Choir (3 superiors)

Four Year Band Pins: Ashlynn Batchelor, Jonathan DeBoer, Noah Falk, Camron Graham, Zane Kilde, Nycole Korstjens, Ashlynn Lamp, Evy Liebe, Allie Meyer, Devon Mueller, James Nelson, Anna Neugebauer, Krista Nies, Yanderyn Olivares Zuniga, Layten Osowski, Elexia Quintanilla, Camryn Sovell, Elisabeth Sperry, Jasmine Tietjen, Elyssa Tomac, Marnie VanLith, and Garrett Weber.

North Area Honor Band: Bryton Blauert, Armando Chan, Franco Flores, Camron Graham, Darin Hagen, Alexis Meyer, Krista Nies, Yanderyn Olivares Zuniga, Tate Pew, Adalynn Roark, Kayla Schweer, Camryn Sovell, Jack terDenge, Rylan Wendland, and Cody Wiik.

Four-Year Choir Pins: Dane Anderson, Ashlynn Batchelor, Braylen Bowsher, Jonathan DeBoer, Noah Falk, Carter Folk, Kalli Grong, Jack Howard, Nycole Korstjens, Paige Korstjens, Evy Liebe, Allie Meyer, Kenadee Mueller, James Nelson, Anna Neugebauer, Krista Nies, Yanderyn Olivares, Elexia Quintanilla, Hunter Reede, Camryn Sovell, Elisabeth Sperry, Keira Steffen, Jasmine Tietjen, Elyssa Tomac, Marnie VanLith,and Garrett Weber

All-State Chorus Pins: Soprano – Rebecca LaVallee, Macy Mueller, Ashlynn Batchelor, and Jenna Korstjens; Alto – Anna Neugebauer, Elyssa Tomac, Yanderyn Olivares and Camryn Sovell; Tenor – Sam Shelstad, Preston Laskowske, and Hunter Reede; Bass – Jack ter Denge, Garrett Weber, Rylan Wendland, and Andrew Karels

Major Letter Awards:
Seniors: Dane Anderson (choir), Camron Graham (band), Devon Mueller (band), Layten Osowski (band), Elisabeth Sperry (band/choir), Jasmine Tietjen (band/choir), and Fernanda Velazquez Bojorges (band)

Juniors: Thomas Bass (choir), Danna Lopez Botello (band), Mario Meraz (band), Heyden Montag (choir), and Tayla Trapp (choir)

Sophomores: Ismael Gomez (band), Fischer Hawley (choir), Lorn Harstad (choir), Brooke Hendricks (band/choir), Keaton Johnson (choir), and Aiden Pillatzki (band)

Freshman: Alayna Gloe (band/choir), Isabella Hicks (band), Tristan Hooth (band/choir), Jayden Korstjens (band), Cooper Mueller (band), Bridget Regil Lemus (band), Colton Roark (band/choir), Emmett Schuelke (band/choir), Charlotte Swanson (band), Kinley VanHoorn (band), Jada Leigh Wellnitz (band), and Harper Wendland (band/choir)

Major Bar Awards:
Seniors: Ashlynn Batchelor (band/choir), Jonathan DeBoer (band/choir), Noah Falk (band), Kalli Grong (choir), Zane Kilde (band), Nycole Korstjens (band/choir),  Ashlynn Lamp (band), Evy Liebe (band/choir), Allie Meyer (choir), Kenadee Mueller (choir), James Nelson (band/choir), Anna Neugebauer (band/choir), Krista Nies (band/choir), Yanderyn Olivares Zuniga (band/choir), Elexia Quintanilla (band/choir), Hunter Reede (choir), Camryn Sovell (band/choir), Keira Steffen (choir), Elyssa Tomac (band/choir), Marnie VanLith (band/choir), and Garrett Weber (band/choir)

Juniors: Tuesday Gastineau (choir), Rashawn Gertsema-Collins (band), Izabella Glomstad (choir), Parker Grabow (band/choir), Taylor Hallquist (choir), Liam Heller (band), Jenna Korstjens (band/choir), Preston Laskowske (band/choir), Rebecca Lavallee (band/choir), Alexis Meyer (band/choir), Macy Mueller (band/choir), Franklin Pederson (band), Adalynn Roark (band), Tanen Schmieg (band), Kayla Schweer (band), Sam Shelstad (band/choir), Jack terDenge (band/choir), and  Cody Wiik (band)

Sophomores: Bryton Blauert (band/choir), Kaitlyn Brandenburger (band/choir), Armando Chan (band), Franco Flores (band), Lydia Gall (choir), Darin Hagen (band), Andrew Karels (band/choir), Pierce Mathiason (band), Lawson Novy (band), Adison Pauli (choir), Belle Pauli (choir), Tate Pew (band), Brooklynn Twedt (band), Raina Untalan (band/choir), Teaneashea Vogel (band), Rylan Wendland (band/choir), and Phillip Yost (band)

Perfect Attendance at Pep Band Events: Kyler Brandenburger, Liam Heller, Brooke Hendricks, Bella Hicks, Andrew Karels, Cooper Mueller, Yandeyrn Olivares Zuniga, Garrett Weber, and Harper Wendland

Band Officer pins: President-Anna Neugebauer; Vice President-Evy Liebe; Secretaries-Camron Graham, Camryn Sovell, Elisabeth Sperry, and Jasmine Tietjen

Drum Major pins: Anna Neugebauer, Elyssa Tomac, Camron Graham, and Preston Laskowske

Colorguard pins: Ashlynn Batchelor, Allie Meyer, Jasmine Tietjen, Marnie VanLith, Isabella Flores, Macy Mueller, Yani Perez Montes, Kayla Schweer, Kaitlyn Brandenburger, and Brooke Hendricks

Band Section Leader pins: Camron Graham, Elexia Quintanilla, Alexis Meyer, Jasmine Tietjen, Kayla Schweer, Elisabeth Sperry, Yanderyn Olivares Zuniga, Anna Neugebauer, Camryn Sovell, Tate Pew, Elyssa Tomac, Krista Nies, Cody Wiik, Nycole Korstjens, Sam Shelstad, Garrett Weber, Evy Liebe, and Rylan Wendland

Chorus Section Leader Pins: Soprano: Rebecca LaVallee, Macy Mueller, and Ashlynn Batchelor
Alto: Kalli Grong, Anna Neugebauer, and Camryn Sovell
Tenor: Sam Shelstad, Preston Laskowske, and Hunter Reede
Bass: Jack ter Denge, Garrett Weber, and Rylan Wendland

Jazz Band Member pins: Ashlynn Batchelor, Bryton Blauert, Kaitlyn Brandenburger, Armando Chan, Jonathan DeBoer, Noah Falk, Franco Flores, Rashawn Gertsema-Collins, Ismael Gomez, Parker Grabow, Darin Hagen, Andrew Karels, Zane Kilde, Jayden Korstjens, Jenna Korstjens,Nycole Korstjens, Preston Laskowske, Rebecca Lavallee, Evy Liebe, Danna Lopez Botello, Mario Meraz, Cooper Mueller, Macy Mueller, James Nelson, Anna Neugebauer, Krista Nies, Lawson Novy, Yanderyn Olivares Zuniga, Layten Osowski, Franklin Pederson, Tate Pew, Aiden Pillatzki, Bridget Regil Lemus, Colton Roark, Tanen Schmieg, Emmett Schuelke, Kylynn Schwandt, Sam Shelstad, Camryn Sovell, Liam Street, Charlotte Swanson, Jack ter Denge, Elyssa Tomac, Julian Van Veen, Marnie VanLith, Teaneashea Vogel, Rylan Wendland, Cody Wiik, Sam Wilson, and Phil Yost.

Submitted Photo:
Front row: Elyssa Tomac, Elisabeth Sperry, Krista Nies, Yanderyn Olivares Zuniga, Ashlynn Batchelor, Camryn Sovell, Anna Neugenauer, Belle Pauli, Jasmine Tietjen
Back row: Bella Hicks, Colton Roark, Tate Pew, Liam Street, Garrett Weber, Cody Wiik, Jack ter Denge