By: Sarah Olson and Matthew Goettle, Choir Director and Band Director
This year has been filled with many accomplishments in both band and choir. Along with the regularly scheduled concerts, students have been busy preparing for festival auditions and performing solos and in small ensembles at regional and state competitions. In this article, we would like to highlight and share the accomplishments of our students this year.
The DHS choir will perform its final concert, titled “Sounds of Summer,” on May 12 at 7: PM in the DHS Auditorium. The garage band is busy preparing for its upcoming concert on May 4 at 7:30 PM in the DHS Auditorium. The DHS band is preparing for its tour to Chicago, May 14–17, and will then finish out the year with a final performance at graduation.
All State
- Band
- Lincoln Goettle
- Marlee Winkelspecht
- Nevaeh Pierce
- Alexys Deschamps
- Jaxon Howard
- Jordan Hibl
- Christian Duchscher
- Alternate: Gabriella Herrman
Choir
- Medora Rabousek
- Siera Langsjoen
- Charlotte Rae
- Lola Kilwein
- Alternate: Gabriella Herrman
James Polyhar Band Festival- Valley City- October 23-24, 2025
The James Ployhar Band Festival is held in Valley City each year. The festival was held on October 23–24, 2025. The following students were selected based on their recorded auditions, competing against other high school students from across the state.
- Caroline Utt – Grade 10 – Bassoon
- Neveah Pierce – Grade 12 – Clarinet
- Marlee Winkelspecht – Grade 12 – Bass Clarinet
- Rowan Farrington – Grade 11 – Alto Saxophone
- Gavin Dvorak – Grade 12 – Alto Saxophone
- Erin Martin – Grade 10 – Baritone Saxophone
- Lincoln Goettle – Grade 12 – Trumpet
- Josie Kensinger – Grade 10 – Trumpet
- Ayden Meier – Grade 10 – Trombone
- Christian Duchscher – Grade 11 – Percussion
Northwest Festival of Music- Minot - November 7-8, 2025
Choir Students:
- Alena Anderson
- Rachel Cartwright
- Aaliya Cisneros
- Sofia Contreras
- Esther Dustin
- Marley Featherstone
- Jael Garcia Serrato
- Landon Humenyik
- Reese Jorgensen
- Aubrey Kelley
- Siera Langsjoen
- Richard Leshovsky
- Elizabeth Mohler
- Charlotte Rae
- Medora Rambousek
- Lily Reile
- Benjamin Ricks
- Gabriel Ricks
- Kaylin Sanborn Newo
- DJ Seidel
- Kyria Semo Kamseu
- DeLayla Thom
- Stella Treat
- Marlee Winkelspecht
Band Students:
- Alexys Croft - flute
- Caroline Utt - bassoon
- Christian Duchscher - percussion
- Erin Martin - baritone saxophone
- Gabby Herman - trumpet
- Jordan Hibl - trumpet
- Lincoln Goettle - trumpet
- Kaleb Binstock - alto saxophone
- Nevaeh Pierce - clarinet
- Rainey Zettel - percussion
- Roger Bobbe - trombone
These students were four-year recipients at the Northwest Festival of Music in Minot. It is quite a feat to make one of these auditioned festivals for multiple years, let alone four—pretty cool!
- Lincoln Goettle - trumpet
- Nevaeh Pierce - clarinet
- Christian Duchscher - percussion
- Northern Plains Music Festival - November 14-15, 2025
- Choir Students:
- Kaidence Bear
- Kaitlynn Beenblossom
- Aaliya Cisneros
- Rachel Cartwright
- Jael Garcia Serrato
- Esther Dustin
- Aubrey Kelley
- Siera Langsjoen
- Connor Madden
- Charlotte Rae
- Medora Rambousek
- Benjamin Ricks
- Dylan Seidel
- Kyria Semo Kamseu
- DeLayla Thom
- Ica White
- Band Students:
- Gavin Dvorak
- Kaleb Binstock
- Katey Schlecht
- Marlee Winkelspecht
- Caroline Utt
- Nevaeh Pierce
- Mya Gomez
- Kadence Christian
- Regan Berger
- Rylee Wallace
- Gabby Herrman
- Elly Berg
- Haylee Senger
- Jena Soggie
- Elizabeth Shifflett
- Alexys Croft
- Rowen Farrington
- Isadora Dunham
- Ayden Meier
- Jaxon Croft
- Roger Bobbe
- Morgan Haller
- Lincoln Goettle
- Jordan Hibl
- Josie Kensinger
- Gabe Ricks
- Christian Duchscher
- Phaden Schrum
- Rainey Zettel
UND Honor Band/Choir- April 24 & 25, 2026
The UND Honor Band and Choir was rescheduled this year to April 24 and 25 because of a winter storm in January. Students participated in live auditions on Oct. 24 when UND professors came to Dickinson to hear students from southwest North Dakota.
- Ellayna Berg - flute
- Nevaeh Pierce - clarinet
- Marlee Winkelspecht - bass clarinet
- Gavin Dvorak - alto saxophone
- Lincoln Goettle - trumpet
- Gabby Herrman - trumpet
- Josie Kensinger - trumpet
- Christian Duchscher - percussion
- Medora Rambousek- Soprano 2
- Charlotte Rae- Soprano 1
- Gabriel Ricks- Bass
State Vocal Festival and WDA Instrumental Festivals
We had many solos, duets, and small ensembles perform at the WDA Vocal and Instrumental Festival. Listed below are the groups who received a STAR rating for their performances.
WDA Saxophone/Percussion:
- Kaleb Binstock - grade 11 - Alto Saxophone Solo
- Gavin Dvorak - grade 12 - Alto Saxophone Solo
- Percussion Duet: Lorraine Zettel (12) and Phaden Schrum (12) - Percussion Duet
- Percussion Ensemble: Lorraine Zettel (12), Phaden Schrum (12), Chance Ellison (12), Christian Duchscher (11), Bryan Leggate (11), Sophia Colsen (11), Victoria Heck (11), Trevyn Hageman (11)
- Christian Duchscher (11) - Snare Solo - also received Outstanding Performance
- Alexys DesChamps (10) - Tenor Sax Solo
- Erin Martin (10) - Bari Sax Solo
- Saxophone Ensemble- Erin Martin (10), Alexys DesChamps (10), Gavin Dvorak (12), Kaleb Binstock (11), Heath Zimmermann (10), Rowen Farrington (11)
The WDA Woodwind Festival
- Caroline Utt (10) - Bassoon Solo
- Alexys DesChamps (10) and Kahlan Lopez (9) - Flute Duet
- Ellayna Berg (11) - Flute Solo
- Elizabeth Shifflett (12), Ellayna Berg (11), Haylee Senger (11), Jena Soggie (11), and Elizabeth Mohler (11) - Flute Ensemble
- Elizabeth Shifflett (12) and Haylee Senger (12) - Flute Duet
- Clarinet Ensemble- Nevaeh Pierce (12), Roman Armstrong (11), Lizzie Kallis (11), Mya Gomez (12), Kadence Christian (12), Ashley Broome (11), Nareen Trent (11), Aniah Lampkins (11), Marlee Winkelspecht (12), and Caroline Utt (10)
- Marlee Winkelspecht (12) - Bass Clarinet Solo
- Nevaeh Pierce (12) and Marlee Winkelspecht (12) - Clarinet Duet
- Nevaeh Pierce (12) - Clarinet Solo
- Alexys DesChamps (10), Emma Blinn (10), Kahlan Lopez (9), Makenna Muth (9) - Flute Ensemble
- WDA Brass
- Ayden Meier - grade 10 - Trombone Solo
- Lorraine Zettel and Marlee Winkelspecht - grades 12 - Trumpet Duet
- Lincoln Goettle (12) and Jordan Hibl (12) - Trumpet duet
- Lincoln Goettle (12), Jordan Hibl (12), Gabriella Herrman (11) - Trumpet Trio
- Marlee Winkelspecht (12) - trumpet solo
- Lincoln Goettle (12) - trumpet solo - OP (Outstanding Performance)
- Grant Zimmermann (9) - trumpet solo
- Ayden Meier (10) and Roger Bobbe (9) - trombone duet
- Roger Bobbe (9) - trombone solo
- Cruz Edwards (10) - trombone solo
- Jaxon Croft (12) - euphonium solo
An exciting thing to note is that Lincoln Goettle received not only a STAR rating, but also the OP (Outstanding Performance) Award, for the second year in a row! Each of the four judges selects one performance each year that they believe was exceptional—quite an honor!
State Vocal - Received a STAR rating
Soloists:
- Gabriella Herrman
- Lola Kilwein
Duets:
- Delayla Thom & Marlee Winkelspecht
- Charlotte Rae & Medora Rambousek
- Medora Rambousek & Lola Kilwein
Small Ensemble:
- Time
- Lincoln Goettle
- Gabriella Herrman
- Landon Humenyik
- Karson Jung
- Aubrey Kelley
- Richard Leshovsky
- Charlotte Rae
- Medora Rambousek
- Gabe Ricks
- Marlee Winkelspecht