Submitted Photo Rugby High School instrumental music students pose for a photo before competing in the Region 4 Class B Instrumental Music Contest, held in Cando.

Thirty-eight Rugby High School students punched their tickets to state at the Region 4 Class B Instrumental Contest, held on April 1 at North Star School in Cando.

The number represents more than 80% of the 46 students competing in the contest.

“We are excited, and I’m very proud of them!” wrote Rugby High instrumental music teacher Kari Hill in an email.

“Rugby had 13 ensembles and 17 solos compete,” she added. “Our results included 12 stars, two outstanding performances.”

“The state music contest is at Minot State University on Saturday, May 7,” Hill added.

Receiving stars for flute ensemble were Rylie Suchor, Joran Jundt, Reese LaRocque, Ryli Kuhnhenn, Alexis Yoder, Allison Selensky, and Marli Casavant. Stars went to Amy Volk, Emily Yoder, and Alex Whorley in the clarinet/clarinet/alto sax trio category.

In the clarinet ensemble category, Amy Volk, Emily Yoder, Kiah Gault, Alyssa Harmel, Mikaylee Livedalen, Mariann Kraft, Kaedyn DeMontigny, Rylee Geiszler, Hailey Solem, and Katelyn Duchscher all earned stars.

Ethan Musser, Annika Johnson, Mykell Heidlebaugh, Erik Foster, Cole Anderson, and Christine Mahle earned stars in the trombone ensemble category.

Brass ensemble members Brooke Anderson, Lathan DeMontigny, Cole Vietz-Reile, Brody Schneibel, Anna Johnson, Musser, Annika Johnson, Ryleigh Keating, Tucker Volk, and Bryceton Deplazes all earned stars and the outstanding performance designation.

Kristian Fritz, Cooper Bonebrake, Jenner Johnson, and Jesse Wolf all earned stars for the percussion ensemble category.

Solo performers earning stars included Reese LaRocque, flute solo; Taylor Pritschet, oboe solo; Amy Volk, clarinet solo; and Musser, trombone solo. Jenner Johnson received a star for his snare drum solo.

Tucker Schoneberg earned both a star and an outstanding performance award for his baritone saxophone solo.

Other students earned an “excellent” rating for their performances. “‘Excellent’ is the rating below the star,” Hill said.

Excellent ratings went to Jundt and LaRocque, flute duet; Anna Johnson, Kraft, and Kendyll Hager, French horn/clarinet/oboe trio; Whorley, Janikka Miller, Mya McNeff, Dylan Bartsch, and Schoneberg, saxophone ensemble; Brooke Anderson and Lathan DeMontigny, trumpet duet; Brooke Anderson, Lathan DeMontigny, Vietz-Reile, Schneibel, Connor Klein, Joey Wolf, Gavin Schepp, and Connor Ramsey, trumpet ensemble; and Musser and Annika Johnson, trombone duet.

More “excellent” ratings went to Fritz and Bonebrake, snare drum set; Rylie Suchor, flute solo; Ryli Kuhnhenn, flute solo; Alexis Yoder, flute solo; Emily Yoder, clarinet solo; Livedalen, clarinet solo; Duchscher, bass clarinet solo; Whorley, alto sax solo and Klein, trumpet solo; Cole Anderson, trombone solo; Fritz, snare drum solo; and Bonebrake, snare drum solo.