Friday, December 26, 2025
32.0°F

Music students compete at state festival

MONTE TURNER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 months, 2 weeks AGO
by MONTE TURNER
Mineral Independent | May 14, 2025 12:00 AM

The Superior High School music program has swelled in size and achievements since music teacher Debbie Merrill took over a few years ago. 

She had 13 kids make it to the state festival in Great Falls last weekend. To qualify for state competition, students compete at the district level and for those that receive superior ratings, they are invited to the next level.  

“We went to Great Falls overnight and they spent two days performing for judges.  Several received Superior ratings at the state level and the others received Excellent ratings,” she boasted. \“These kids work on their music for months on their own and several performed in more than one ensemble. They performed solos, duets, trios and quartets. One student, Violet Blanco, made it to state in both vocal and instrumental competition, which is really extraordinary.” 

Merrill continued with more accolades. 

“Another student, Abby Wheeler, competed on three different instruments. Oboe, piano and English horn. Caelen Pittsley, a vocalist, received superior ratings at the state level in both of his categories; a solo and a duet. Addi Martin also received superior ratings in two categories at the state level with a saxophone solo and a saxophone quartet.  And then Lily Jasper was our first ever 8th grader to compete and make it to state at the high school level music competition.”

ARTICLES BY MONTE TURNER

River Edge Pavilion earns top architecture award
December 23, 2025 11 p.m.

River Edge Pavilion earns top architecture award

The Montana chapter of the American Institute of Architects is involved in numerous community outreach programs and initiatives that allow architects to give back while promoting the value of architecture to the public.

Drug dog: Mabel welcomes pharmacy customers
December 23, 2025 11 p.m.

Drug dog: Mabel welcomes pharmacy customers

Customers walking into Mineral Pharmacy in Superior may be greeted by an employee who isn’t wearing a name badge, but she’s hard to miss.

Hundreds use Red Cross shelter after windstorm
December 23, 2025 11 p.m.

Hundreds use Red Cross shelter after windstorm

The Red Cross established an emergency shelter on Wednesday night, Dec. 17, in the Superior School gymnasium after a major windstorm knocked out power across the region.