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The Albert Lea High School music department announced the award winners for the 2019-20 school year, according to a press release. Traditionally the awards would have been given at the final concerts of the year, but this year they were given virtually.

Choir students earn letters for many hours of singing experiences and involvement in choir activities outside the school day.  Letter winners in vocal music for the year were seniors Ashler Benda, Evan Blankenship, Maggie Eggum, Lydia Fluth, Olivia Goodmanson, Mario Guerra, Makenzie Herr, Logan Howe, Bu Htoo, Brenda Lunning,Tierney Murtaugh, Noah Pesch, Grace Pfennig, Marissa Vogt, Andrew Willner and Sam Yoon; junior letter winners were Emma Barclay, Anna Birch, Madison Doyle,Leah Dup, Maray Lopez, Macayla Marti, Stephanie Redman, Regina Riemann, Erin Utz, Felicity Weber and Isabel Wilson; sophomores earning a letter were Morgan Anfinson, Samantha Brumbaugh, Grace Dawson, Gretta Larson and Brian Solberg; and earning letters from the freshman class were Avery Benda, Kailey Boettcher, Ava Cunningham, Makayla Hannegrefs-Dahlen, Kendall Kenis, Cody Laskowske, Joey Maiden, Hattie Nelson, Jaya Stout, William Toft, Madi Whelan, Hannah Willner and Joseph Yoon. 

The National School Choral Award is given to seniors and voted on by their peers as choir members who demonstrate leadership, dedication and achievement in vocal music. This year’s winners were Marissa Vogt and Samuel Yoon.

Band students earn letter points for various experiences outside of the regular school day. First-time letter winners for band included Leon Kong, Bailey Vinge, Jarrett Flink, Lauren Miller, Katelyn Holt, Atziri Amador Torres, Connor Veldman, Ethan Green and Nathan Bauers. Students earning gold bars for additional letter points included Abigail Chalmers, Anna Birch, Aaron Farris, Dylan Callahan, Bailey Vinge and Lily Vinge. John Lukes won a band medal this year for reaching 800 letter points. The Louis Armstrong Jazz Award was given to senior Lauren Miller for her involvement in jazz activities throughout her high school career. The John Philip Sousa Award for Band was given to senior Lily Vinge for her dedication and achievements, and for the leadership she has shown as drum major of the marching band.

Orchestra students earn letter points throughout their high school career. First-time letter winners for orchestra included Nicole Caya, Kayla Christenson, Traw Daw, Kaedyn Kirchner, Angelina Minear, Maggie Moller, Zach Nelson, Chloe Oakland, Johan Resendiz, Jennifer Vasquez-Gonzales and Alixis Zak. Samuel Yoon earned a gold bar for additional letter points.  The Orchestra Director’s Award was given to senior Nicole Caya for her dedication and leadership throughout her high school career.

The National School Orchestra Award is given to a senior who demonstrates leadership, dedication, achievement on their instruments and contributions to the success of the orchestra.  This award is voted on by members of the symphony orchestra. This year, the National School Orchestra Award was given to Samuel Yoon.