Ashley Baeten in the spotlight during the 2015 National FFA Convention & Expo in Louisville, Kentucky

ash nationals photoAshley Baeten, a member of the Oconto Falls FFA chapter in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, will be on stage and in the spotlight during the 2015 National FFA Convention & Expo in Louisville, Kentucky from October 28-31, 2015.

Ashley, a senior at Oconto Falls High School, is the daughter of David and Angela Baeten and has been selected to the National FFA Chorus.
The Chorus will perform several times during the 2015 National FFA Convention & Expo, adding excitement and motivation to the sessions through their music. She will join other chorus members in Louisville three days prior to the convention to begin rehearsals.

Ashley has been extremely active in the music program at Oconto Falls High School. She has been a member of Concert Choir, Cantabile, Chamber Singers, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, and Pep Band. In 2014 she was selected to perform with the Wisconsin’s Ambassadors of Music Choir on their European Tour to England, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein, and Germany. Ashley has been selected as an outstanding soloist in the Oconto Falls High School Choral Program for the past three years and is a National Anthem soloist for many athletic events. She has also performed at both the District and State Solo and Ensemble Festival in multiple events, including solos, duets, madrigals, Vocal Jazz, and large ensembles. Ashley has been selected to perform the FFA State Choir and this is the second time Ashley has earned the honor of being in the National FFA Choir.

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 610,240 student members in grades 7-12 and who belong to one of 7,665 local FFA chapters throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THESE EXCELLENT MUSICIANS!

The Oconto Falls High School Music Department recently participated in the State Solo and Ensemble Festival on Saturday, May 3 at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.  All State events received Class A Starred First ratings at the District Solo and Ensemble Festival in March.  State results were as follows:

STATE-FIRST
Hannah Knutson, vocal solo*  (*WSMA Exemplary State Soloist Award)
Eja Sweig, vocal solo
Emily Coopman, vocal solo
Elissa Ribbens, vocal solo

Stephanie Gortarez, musical theater solo
Elissa Ribbens, musical theater solo
Hannah Knutson, musical theater solo

Hannah Knutson & Stephanie Gortarez, vocal duet
Eva Finke & Megan Heller, vocal duet
Ashley Baeten & Leah Wons, vocal duet

Eva Finke, piano solo
Elissa Ribbens, piano solo
Spencer Elkins, classical guitar solo
Shelley Cupino, pedal harp solo (home-based education)
Shelley Cupino, piano solo (home-based education)

Chamber Singers SSAA Madrigal:  Kaitie Spaude, Stephanie Gortarez, Hannah Knutson, Samara Kaiser, Eva Finke, Haley Pritzl, Leticia Schultz, Emily Winkler, Katelyn Bayer, Arianna Bloom, Denisha Hurning, DeAnna Konitzer, Ashley Terry, Natalie Irmen, Megan Heller, Kaylie Hetzel, Carly Lemke, Evelyn O’Harrow, &  Courtney VanHaren

Chamber Singers SSA Miscellaneous Ensemble:  Megan Heller, Hannah Knutson, Samara Kaiser, Leticia Schultz, Denisha Hurning, Eva Finke, Emily Winkler, Natalie Irmen, & Courtney VanHaren

Cantabile SSA Miscellaneous Ensemble:  Andrea Shamburek, Ahlana Saray, Elissa Ribbens, Emily Cooopman, Leah Wons, Ali Clark, Madison Fischer, Regina Garbrecht, Hannah Raasch, Brittany Wirtz, Jennifer Deau & Jacyln Erickson

Cantabile SSA Miscellaneous Ensemble:  Kiana Archiquette, Destiny Benesh, Ashley Baeten, Victoria Bain-Vrba, Chasity Tester, Chyna Sell, Michaela Meyer, Kari Ann Stich, Karley Krueger, Danielle Bursa, Adrianna Siech, Eja Sweig, & Chloe Hetzel

Cantabile SSA Madrigal:  Jennifer Deau, Ahlana Saray, Elissa Ribbens, Victoria Bain-Vrba, Ali Clark, Leah Wons, Madison Fischer, Chasity Tester, Andrea Shamburek, Hannah Raasch, Chloe Hetzel, & Brittany Wirtz

SATB Madrigal:  Hannah Knutson, Stephanie Gortarez, Emily Coopman, Leah Wons, Megan Heller, Eva Finke, Jennifer Deau, Garret Gubbels, Jorden Holt, Mike Kurzynske, Spencer Elkins, Angelo Betow, Nick Borisch, & Scott Heller

Vocal Jazz Ensemble:  Nick Borisch, Scott Heller, Angelo Betow, Spencer Elkins, Mike Kurzynske, Garret Gubbels, Jorden Holt, Hannah Knutson, Stephanie Gortarez, Emily Coopman, Leah Wons, Megan Heller, Eva Finke, & Jennifer Deau

Percussion Ensemble:  Cody Tappa, Matthew Lyng, Drew Demeny, Jordan Koppa, Ally Magnin, Cameron Box, McCoy Fischer, & Andrea Shamburek.

STATE-SECOND
Stephanie Gortarez, vocal solo
Eva Finke, vocal solo
Jennifer Deau, vocal solo
Kiana Archiquette, vocal solo
Ashley Baeten, vocal solo
Jorden Holt, vocal solo
Leah Wons, vocal solo

Eva Finke, musical theater solo
Kaitie Spaude, musical theater solo

Hannah Knutson, piano solo
Cameron Box, drum set solo

Samara Kaiser & Nick Borisch, vocal duet
Ali Clark & Emily Winkler, vocal duet
Kayla Virtues & Emily Winkler, flute duet
Tanner Nys & Hannah Cunningham, flute & clarinet duet
Matthew Lyng & Cody Tappa, snare drum duet

STATE-THIRD
DeAnna Konitzer, vocal solo