Finalists and Winners of 2025 MSBOA Outstanding Soloist Competition
Sixteen adjudicators and 111 students came together at Eastern Michigan University this month for the 2025 MSBOA Outstanding Soloist Competition. MSBOA announced that 15 finalists were selected for this year’s competition.
From left to right, finalists included Mia Bayardo (HH Dow HS) on string bass, Matthew Dyson (Detroit Country Day HS) on oboe, Willem Damron (Walled Lake Western HS) on cello, Bradlee Coggins (Holly HS) on snare drum with tambourine, Seth Miller (Zeeland East HS) on trumpet, Tanner Reynolds (Zeeland East HS) on bassoon, Aaron Wang (Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School) on piano, Isabelle Bonten (Stoney Creek HS) on violin, Sophia Marx (Birmingham Groves HS) on viola, Autumn Allen (Yale HS) on trombone, Frank Lulgjoraj (Utica Academy of International Studies HS) on clarinet, Quinton Riggs (Saline HS) on horn, Aidan Rathnaw (Dakota HS) on tuba, Sebastian Cruz (Lake Orion HS) on alto saxophone and Salem Dihn (not pictured, Huron HS) on flute.
Four students were selected as the winners of this year’s MSBOA Outstanding Soloist Competition. From left to right, the winners include violinist Isabelle Bonten (Stoney Creek HS), alto saxophonist Sebastian Cruz (Lake Orion HS), bassoonist Tanner Reynolds (Zeeland East HS) and pianist Aaron Wang (Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School). All four students have been invited to perform in this year’s Showcase Concert at Western Michigan University on May 9.
Congratulations to all students and their directors!
2025 MSBOA Outstanding Jazz Musicians
Connor Brendel, Alto Sax – Trenton HS
Mason Brown, Alto Sax – Trenton HS
Cael Omness, Alto Sax – Shelby HS
Gavin Padgett, Alto Sax – Big Rapids HS
Alejandro Samaniego Ramos, Alto Sax – Walled Lake Western HS
Thomas Tran, Alto Sax – West Ottawa HS
Isaac Wright, Bari Sax – Rockford HS
Alex Hsu, Bass – Ann Arbor Pioneer HS
Viggo Jewel, Bass – Grosse Pointe South HS
Danielle Leigh, Bass – Troy HS
Jack Stargardt, Bass – Rockford HS
Amund Williams, Bass – Big Rapids HS
Rachel Wing, Bass – Bay City Western HS
Nathaniel Sudinski, Bass Trombone – Morley Stanwood HS
Silas Donaldson, Clarinet – Clare HS
Brennan Brzeg, Drum Set – Warren Mott HS
Sal D’ Amato, Drum Set – Anchor Bay HS
James Stross, Drum Set – Ann Arbor Pioneer HS
Ethan Wells, Drum Set – Northview HS
Jack Wickham, Drum Set – Ionia HS
Merrick Young, Drum Set – Bay City Western HS
Cameron Anderson, Guitar – Troy HS
Matt Elechicon, Piano – Utica HS
Jackson Gwizdala, Piano – Bay City Central HS
Gabe Mahoney, Piano – Grosse Pointe North HS
William Millitzer, Piano – Ann Arbor Pioneer HS
Christian Platt, Piano – Anchor Bay HS
Irena Abboud, Tenor Sax – Warren Mott HS
Zach Danks, Tenor Sax – Rockford HS
Brendan Dine, Tenor Sax – Bay City Central HS
Liam Francis, Tenor Sax – Troy Athens HS
Kline Joe, Tenor Sax – Ludington HS
Zachary Kroll, Tenor Sax – Stevenson HS
Olivia Piesko, Tenor Sax – Anchor Bay HS
Noelle Prouty, Tenor Sax – Northville HS
Andrew Warren, Tenor Sax – East Kentwood HS
Murphy Hossink, Trumpet – Northview HS
Jacob Jones, Trumpet -Wyandotte Roosevelt HS
Emi Rodrigo, Trumpet – Bloomfield Hills HS
Carter Tucker-Gough, Trumpet – Walled Lake Western HS
Jacob Paradowski, Trumpet – Fraser HS
Oliver Jacobson, Vibes – Ann Arbor Pioneer HS
