OSMOND – Sophia Wilken plans to keep making beautiful music after she graduates from Wausa High School.
The senior was one of several Wausa band and choir students who attended the 2024 Nebraska School Activities Association District III Music Contest on April 19 in Osmond.
Wilken noted she was pleased with how she sang overall on the day, including her vocal solo, “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.”
“It flatters my voice a lot more than some of the other songs we sang,” Wilken said. “I just felt like I could push that one out more.”
Wilken also sang “Amazing Grace” with sophomore Avery Stevens in a vocal duet.
“That one was a lot of fun, too,” Wilken said. “That one was really good, too.”
Wilken reflected on the district music contest being her last one as a Wausa student.
“I’m going to miss it so much,” Wilken said. “Music is my favorite thing ever. I enjoyed all of my time, seeing all of my friends and singing the songs I could.”
In addition to her vocal solo and duet at the district music contest, she also sang in two choirs for Wausa as well as played the trumpet as part of a band performance.
Wilken, who is planning to go to Wayne State College to pursue a career path as a music teacher, encouraged other students to try out music and go for qualifying for the district music contest.
“I love it so much,” Wilken said. “Come and watch, everybody, next year.”
Students can get ratings I-V at the contest, with I being the highest. Following are Wausa’s results: Senior Sophia Wilken, vocal solo, I; Wilken and sophomore Avery Stevens, vocal duet, I; senior Addison Wynia, flute solo, I; Wynia and junior Jessica Andersen, flute and clarinet duet, I; Andersen, vocal solo, I; sophomore Ainsley Dawson, violin solo, I; Dawson and sophomore Braydon Hoesing, vocal duet, I; Hoesing, vocal solo, I; Hoesing and sophomore Alijah Nelson, vocal duet, I; Nelson, vocal solo, I; freshman Carlie Kleinschmit, vocal solo, I; concert choir, I, I, I; concert band, I, II, II; senior Colton Hagemann, vocal solo, II; Andersen, clarinet solo, II; boys ensemble, II; girls choir, II; saxophone ensemble, II.
High school and junior high music students are set to perform their spring concert at 7 p.m. April 26 inside the gym at Wausa.
