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Student & Faculty Accomplishments

Fall 2025

Students Represented at All-State Auditions:

Katelyn Stessman Studio:

Irene Lin – Johnston HS

Oliver Pearson – Grandview Christian HS

Lizzy Grove – Southeast Polk HS

Corbin Compton – Norwalk HS

Hunter Dixson – Norwalk HS

Dana Sloter Studio:

Lauren Randolph – Norwalk HS

Ethan Brinning – Indianola HS

Emily Gadger – Norwalk HS

Cynthia Giunta Studio:

Nora Yarushkin-9th grade - Valley Southwoods

Ava Williams – 9th grade - Urbandale HS

Students Accepted at All-State Auditions:

Katelyn Stessman Studio:

Gracelyn Lors – Alto Saxophone, Sophmore – Norwalk HS

Gracelyn Lors – Piano (Alternate), Sopphmore – Norwalk HS

Dana Sloter Studio:

Rylee Campbell – Clarinet – Norwalk HS

Kaelee Holter – Clarinet – Indianola HS

Camryn Johnson – Clarinet – Ankeny Centennial HS

Zane Wihlm – Clarinet – Norwalk H

Cherie Knight-Burnham Studio:

Eden Sedars - flute- Alternate

Katelyn Stessman Saxophone Studio Student Highlights

Congratulations to the following DUCSOM students for their recent accomplishments!

Middles & Music Honor Band: Gabby Leistikow & Oliver Pearson

Little Hawkeye Conference High School Honor Band: Hunter Dixon, Corbin Compton, Gracelyn Lors, Carter Ross, & Michael McClelland

Division I Rating at Solo Contest:

Middle School: Irene Lin & Oliver Pearson
High School: Lizzy Grove, Hunter Dixon, Gracelyn Lors, Carter Ross, & Madeline Meiners (flute)

Division I+ Rating at Solo Contest: Gabby Leistikow

Best of Center Awards:

Middle School: Gabby Leistikow
High School: Gracelyn Lors

SCIBA Honor Band:

Middle School: Irene Lin
High School: Hunter Dixon, Corbin Compton, Gracelyn Lors, Madeline Meiners (flute), & Michael McClelland

Drake University Honor Jazz Band Festival: Gracelyn Lors

Drake University Honor Band Festival: Michael McClelland

Katelyn Stessman Studio Graduates:

2024-2025:

Madeline Meiners - Iowa State University Music Program (flute & saxophone)
Michael McClelland - Drake University Music Program; 2025-2026; BA MUS (saxophone)
- Attended the Drake University Honor Band Festival in December 2024, reached out via DUCSOM website, as was planning to come to Drake University as a Music Minor. After a semester of lessons with Katelyn Stessman & Dr. James Romain, Michael will be an incoming saxophone major at Drake University in the fall 2025 semester.
Carter Ross - Case Western Reserve University; Pre-Medicine & Music Minor

2021:

Allison Kinman - DUCSOM 2021; Berklee College of Music 2025 graduate
Rachel Ihde - Drake University

2024-2025 Schools Represented in Katelyn Stessman Saxophone Studio: Johnston Middle School, Johnston High School, Southeast Polk High School, Norwalk High School, DeSoto Intermediate School, Merrill Middle School, Grandview Christian Middle School, Fairmeadows Elementary School, Hubbell Elementary School, Walnut Street School, I-35 High School, Ankeny High School, & Ankeny Centennial High School

April 2025 Student Highlights

Congratulations to the following DUCSOM students for their recent accomplishments!

Charles Oneal - Student of Cynthia Giunta

Solo Festival - Southview Middle School
- Division I & Outstanding Solo
Large Group Soloist - "Homeward Bound"
The King's Singers
- Director chosen Honor Choir that accompanied The King's Singers.

Laila Collier - Division I in Voice Solo Ensemble; Student of Caitlyn Porter

Shar Lambert - Division I in Voice Solo Ensemble; Student of Caitlyn Porter

Summer Kinnan - Student of Cynthia Giunta

Perry Band Olympics
- Second in Flute Center & Division I

January 2025 Student Highlights

Congratulations to the following DUCSOM students for their recent accomplishments!

Middles & Music Honor Band 2025 (South Hamilton-Jewel, IA)

6th Grade Band: Gabby Leistikow - DeSoto Intermediate Middle School
7th/8th Grade Band: Oliver Pearson - Grand View Christian School

December 2024 Student Highlights

Congratulations to the following DUCSOM students for their recent accomplishments!

Cynthia Giunta Piano Studio:

Charles Oneal (Opus Honor Choir) - Selected from the Des Moines metro to perform with The King's Singers.

John Morgan Saxophone Studio:

Toby Chen - Selected as the tenor saxophone first chair for the Iowa All-State Concert Band.
Ben Buelow & Sajiv Kolli - Selected for the middle school SCIBA Honor Bands.

Iowa All-State 2024

Congratulations to the following DUCSOM students who auditioned and were selected for Iowa's All-State 2024!

Dr. Dana Sloter Clarinet Studio:

Brynn Fuller, contrabass clarinet (Southeast Polk High School)
Camryn Johnson, clarinet (Ankeny Centennial High School)
Marissa Pewe, clarinet (Johnston High School)

Cynthia Giunta Piano Studio:

9th grade piano student: Summer Kinnan, flute (Valley Southwoods Freshman High School)

From DUCSOM student to Drake University student!

We are thrilled to announce DUCSOM student Ruby Hummel, from Panora High School, has signed her letter of intent to attend Drake University as a music major. She is entering as a clarinet major and piano minor. She will begin classes in fall 2021. Welcome to Drake!

Ruby Hummel signing

Pictured in back: James Romain, Music Department Chair; Cynthia Giunta, Director of DUCSOM; Clarence Padilla, clarinet professor

Pictured in front: Ruby Hammel and her proud parents

Congratulations to the following students for their successes!

Eleanor Burton participated in the Victor Borge piano festival at the Salisbury House on Feb. 26^th and received a superior rating. (from Kathy Gedler studio)

Miles Huston and Emerson Palmer, saxophone, both received 2^nd place overall in the 9^th/10^th grade division at the Perry Band Olympics. (from John Morgan Studio)

Camryn Johnson was named one of the top five clarinet soloists in her center at Perry Band Olympics. She is a freshman. (from Dana Sloter Studio)

Student Spotlight:

Bryson Kinnan performed his high school senior recital on March 29^th, 2023. He opened the program on piano with the Brahms Rhapsody, Op. 79. He wrote two pieces of his own. One for piano, titled “Soar” and one for Brass Quintet titled "Fall of a Hero." After performing 2 Tuba Solos, he concluded the program on piano with Stars and Stripes, arranged by the famous Vladimir Horowitz. Congratulations Bryson on an outstanding senior recital! (Bryson studies Tuba with Michael Short and piano with Cynthia Giunta)