Brennan Opitz, Brayden Hahn and Charlie Lund took top student honors at the Star Valley Jr. Music Festival held June 1 and 2 in Thayne, Wyoming. With over 100 adjudications and lessons scheduled over the 2-day festival, more than 70 students had exceptional opportunities for growth and technical evaluation.

Opitz won the Outstanding Musician Rotary Scholarship for $350 with his performance on the cello. Hahn won 1st place at the Advanced Piano level and Lund placed 1st in the Vocal Performance category.
“This year was one of our best in terms of quality entries and musicianship. Each year, the participation just gets better and better.” said Daphne Arbizu, Festival Committee Member. “Brennan was very deserving. He did amazing.”

Other honors students performed and scored beautifully as well. Eve Mavy received an Honorable Mention in Advanced Piano. Intermediate Piano winners included Bryan Hahn in 1st place, and Ryann Lund received an Honorable Mention.

Brigham Hahn, Torrie White and Anna Haderlie received 1st, 2nd and 3rd placement respectively in the Early Intermediate Piano category while Onnika Olsen, Adam Bringhurst and Keanan Barlett did the same in Late Elementary Piano.

Winning Elementary Piano performers were Mark Harris at 1st place, Keladry Johnson at 2nd place and Cayson Haderlie at 3rd place with Eliza England receiving an Honorable Mention.

Brayden Hahn followed Opitz in Advanced Strings at 2nd place, and Maria Gentry took 3rd. Elementary Strings winners were Brigham Hahn at 1st place, Charlotte Crook at 2nd and Sabrina Olsen at 3rd.

Laine Lund placed 2nd in Vocal performance behind her sister Charlie, and Maya Allred placed 3rd with Weston Stucki taking Honorable Mention.

“Every year, our guest clinicians comment on how talented our students are here in Star Valley and this year was no different,” commented Amanda Haderlie, festival committee member. “Clinicians are consistently impressed with the caliber of musicianship and work ethic that our kids demonstrate. It’s a great complement to our families here – to the teachers, and to the parents and students.

“Dr. Dallin Hansen, our piano clinician, said that teaching the students here was a lot of fun,” said Angela Aitken, Festival Committee Chair. “They were excited and just like sponges, ready to soak up the instruction and suggestions.”

“I am very impressed with the quality of voice instruction evident in the singing of many of these students,” commented Taerra Pence, Vocal Clinician and professional soprano in New York. “With continued good instruction, the voice winners could be Broadway singers.”

Nearly $1000 in scholarship funds were donated by Rotary of Star Valley, MAT (Music Art Theater) Camp of Evanston, and Blue Sky Music Camps of Thayne.

Sponsors who made this year’s festival possible through generous donations or organizational support include Hastings Ace Hardware, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Stormy Days Studio, Senator Dan Dockstader, SVI Media, Hillam Orthodontics, Star Valley Arts Council, Thayne Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Town of Thayne and an anonymous donor who specifically funded the organ workshop.

“I really appreciate all the hours and support invested by so many people – especially my committee members who work tirelessly for months to pull this off,” said Aitken. “They really make this whole thing happen by finding clinicians and funding, and then working through all the logistics and details. They are just a bunch of moms and music teachers who are passionate about providing an educational and fun experience for our community. They are the army back stage that makes this all happen.”
Volunteers who helped with the festival include Angela Aitken, Holly Armstong, Grace Pike, Daphne Arbizu, Amanda Haderlie, Janet Erickson, Carrie Usery, Kara Olsen, Nicole Bates, Amy Rainey and Amber Hunt.