Music news
The State High School League’s Region 4AA Vocal Solo and Ensemble Contest was held on March 5. Como singers who received ratings of “Excellent” were Anna Blaine, Margaret Coyne, Nathan Stover, Esther Vang, Peter Vue, Zaci Wells and the duet of Angel Khang and Chimeng Jimmy Lor. Two Como ensembles, Donna di Cantare and AcaPleasure, received ratings of “Superior” and also earned trophies.
In the Instrumental Solo and Ensemble Music Regional Contest, two Como entries repeated their “Superior” ratings from last year. The strings performed Bach’s “Double Violin Concerto in D Minor.” Jake Heiberger and Emmet O’Connell performed “Bop Duet” by Bugs Bower.
Senior Nate Parsons was awarded the Weston Noble music scholarship, totaling $6,000 a year, and free violin lessons for four years from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
The Como Chamber Singers attended a vocal jazz festival at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul on March 7. Two members, Emanuel Rivera and Chimeng Jimmy Lor, received recognition for their solo work with scholarships to the McNally Smith summer vocal camps.
The TriM Variety Show was held on March 13 and featured a variety of musical acts, talent and humor. The choirs performed in the annual Choral Classics concert on March 16 in the Como auditorium.
Full scholarships awarded
Seniors Michelle Gallegos-Guillen and Dah Dah received full scholarships to Bethel University in Arden Hills. Senior Destyn Land received a full scholarship to Augsburg College in Minneapolis. These scholarships were earned through the Urban Ventures program ActSix and were awarded based on academic achievement, leadership, extra curricular activities, letters of recommendation, essays and interviews.
National Merit Scholarship finalist
Senior Ellen Purdy is a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship. Finalists are the highest-scoring program entrants in each state and represent the top 0.5 percent of each state’s senior students.
Brain Bee
Senior Oladunni Alomaja placed fourth in the Minnesota Brain Bee, a statewide neuroscience competition for high school students held annually at the University of Minnesota.
Ruby Bridges visits Como
Como Park hosted civil rights icon Ruby Bridges on March 12 in the Como auditorium. The event consisted of a brief video and slideshow presentation, a talk by Bridges and a question-and-answer period.
Thirty compete in History Day
Thirty Como Park freshman World History students competed in the Regional History Day competition on March 14.
Students who will compete at the state competition in May are Fatha Ahmed, Noah Frese, Jackson Kerr, Gabe Reynolds, Grace Commers, Eva Hanson, Walter Medcraft, Arturo Digirolamo, Shukuri Abdullahi, Hodon Bashir, Stephen Boler, Eli Pattison, Lucas Carmichael-Tanaka, Allen Thoresen, Shyann Salverda, Beth Fryxell and Emma Wallisch.
Spanish Day for second-graders
Fourth-year Como Park Spanish students hosted Spanish Day for second-graders at Chelsea Heights and St. Anthony Park elementary schools. Como students prepared fun lessons that incorporated learning numbers, colors, and storybook vocabulary.
WorldQuest and Quiz Bowl news
Como sent two teams to General Mills Corporate Headquarters in February for the Academic WorldQuest Competition. Como’s teams placed 10th and 15th out of 35 entrants in the annual event coordinated by the Minnesota International Center. MPR education news reporter and Como parent Tim Post was this year’s master of ceremonies.
Como’s Quiz Bowl team of Celia Commers, Ellen Purdy, Anton Konieczny and Andrei Konieczny has qualified for the National Academic Quiz Championship Tournament at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare hotel in Chicago on May 30.
