Elijah McGuire, Arie Lee, Edwin Marquez, and Xander Greene earn top honors
By Jim Beers
The Chester Grade School Music Program has announced the top music awards for the 2025-26 school year. Sue Colonel, Grade School Band Director, annually presents four awards including Most Improved Musician, Outstanding Instrumentalist, and two Director’s Awards. Most often these awards are presented to 8th Grade Band Members who are in their final year of Junior High Band.
2025-26 CGS Music Award Winners
Most Improved: Ealijah McGuire, a Clarinetist
Outstanding Instrumentalist: Xander Greene, Flutist
Director’s Awards: Arieanna Lee, Flutist and Edwin Marquez, Clarinetist
The awards were presented at the CGS Annual Spring Concert which took place Thursday April 30 at Chester High School’s Colbert Memorial Gymnasium. The event began with a brief introduction by CGS Principal, Tim Blair.
Mrs. Colonel then introduced the 5th Grade Beginner Band. She praised the beginners for all of the hard work they had invested in band and for all of their improvement since first picking up their newly acquired instruments in September of 2025 as novice musicians.
The 5th Grade Band then performed three songs including, Premiere March by Joseph Compello, Snooze Alarm, by Mekel Rogers, and Garage Band, by Michael Story. The group wowed the crowd with their level of improvement and expertise, and received much applause. and praise for their musicianship.
The next feature of the program was the 6th Grade Band. These veteran musicians were in their second year of music education and showed it with their higher level of musicianship. Mrs. Colonel also praised them and noted that they had gained much ability to perform at a higher level of expertise and they demonstrated that claim with increased showmanship and confidence.
The 6th Grade Band performed three songs for the large crowd, including, Honor Roll March, by Mark Williams, Theme from Jurassic Park, arranged by Michael Sweeney, and Pixels, by Randall Standridge. It was quite apparent that these second-year musicians had excelled in their ability to play their instruments and that their performance standards had increased.
At this point in the concert Mrs. Colonel took the opportunity to introduce the 8th Grade Band Members who would be graduating from 8th Grade and hopefully moving on to Chester High School to continue their music careers. This year there were (26) 8th Grade Band Members. They are listed below.
2026 8th Grade Band Members
Flutes: Annabell Cross, Xander Greene, and Arieanna Lee
Clarinets: Hunter Brunkhorst, Zury Gomez, Alexis House, Edwin Marquez, and Ealijah McGuire
Bass Clarinets: Brady Brown and Andrew Wilber
Alto Saxophones: Mabrie Cushman, Kinsley Hecht, and Jackson Powell
Trumpets: Miles Bert, Wyatt Cushman, Roman Ditch, Aubree Kumke, and Michael Santay
Trombones: Jaymie Dickerson, Jake Dunn, Jaretzy Garcia, and Jaxon Hanna
Tuba: Ethan Werner
Drums & Percussion: Lorenzo Brooke, Lela Pattison, and Lance Thompson
Mrs. Colonel also recognized all of the students who had competed at the IGSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest and those who had volunteered to play the National Anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner” at a CGS Jr. Jackets Basketball or Volleyball game during the 2025-2026 school year. Those students were not named individually, but were asked to stand to be recognized and honored.
Following the recognition portion of the show, The CGS Junior High Band took center stage to perform four songs. This group of fine musicians did an amazing job and entertained wonderfully throughout their highlighted performance.
The Junior High Band performed El Manto Dorado, by Jorge Vargas, The Lake of Sorrows, by Randall Standridge, Byzantine Dances, by Carol Brittin Chamber, and Faculty Verses Band, by James Ployhar.
The Junior High musicians were outstanding in performing all four of their selections. It was amazing how much they all had improved and grown to be fine musicians since their beginning band days back in 5th Grade in 2022-23.
A particularly entertaining number was the final number titled, Faculty verses Band, by James Ployhar. In this song, the four teachers at CGS who were retiring at the end of this school year were featured in a comic battle between the Junior High Band and the four retiring teachers. The four faculty members included Steve Colonel, Gail Kordys, Robin Renfroe, and Mary Bohnert. This comedic act brought the house down and ended the Junior High portion of the show to a hilarious finale.
At the conclusion of the Junior High performance, Mrs. Colonel presented the 2026 Music Awards mentioned above. She then thanked everyone in attendance and encouraged all musicians to continue their music careers after her retirement.
Vicky Beers, Co-President of the Chester Music Patron Organization presented Mrs. Colonel with a gift certificate for her and Mr. Colonel to visit the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, hopefully to see a musical. Beers praised Mrs. Colonel for all of her great work with the students over her 27 years at CGS and wished her well in retirement.
Prior to adjourning the program, Mrs. Colonel continued her tradition of allowing the band members to select a lively song to perform, utilizing all of the bands members that had performed throughout the show.
Typically, that group just includes the 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Band members. This year in her final year as CGS Band Director, Mrs. Colonel expanded the grand finale to include two final numbers, one which includes all four of the grade levels, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th, and a second number which just included the 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Bands.
The entire group of musicians, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th, performed a rock and roll number titled, “Popcorn Prelude”, by Mike Hannickel. The final song featured only the 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Band members. They played the usual, traditional song that has been selected by the students for several years, “Crazy Train”, arranged by Johnnie Vinson.
Both songs were well received by the large audience, and gave Mrs. Colonel a loud and exciting final performance of her teaching career. Farewell Mrs. Colonel! YOU WILL BE MISSED! Thank You for all of your time, patience, dedication, loyalty, and excellent educational efforts for the students of the Chester Grade School Music Department.
Sue Colonel, Chester Grade School Band Director, directed her final concert Thursday April 30, 2026 at the Annual CGS Spring Concert and Awards Night. After producing a wonderful presentation of music and presenting the 2026 Music Awards, Mrs. Colonel thanked everyone for being so supportive of her programs over the last 27 years. She retired at the end of the school year and will be deeply missed. Beers Photo
The 2026 Chester Grade School Music Award winners are (left to right) Ealijah McGuire, Most Improved Musician; Arieanna Lee, Director’s Award; Edwin Marquez, Director’s Award; and Xander Greene, Outstanding Instrumentalist. Jim Beers Photo
Vicky Beers, Co-President of the Chester Music Patrons, presents Sue Colonel, CGS Band Director, a St. Louis Fox Theatre Gift Certificate, in appreciation for her dedication and excellent service to the music programs at CGS over the past 27 years. This retirement gift is good for two tickets to any 2026-27 Fox Musical event. Jim Beers Photo
Mrs. Colonel directs the 5th Grade Beginner Band in one of their three musical performances including Premiere March, Snooze Alarm, and Garage Band. Jim Beers Photo
The CGS 6th Grade Band performed three selections at the 2026 CGS Spring Concert including Honor Roll March, Theme from Jurassic Park, and Pixels. The band was under the direction of Sue Colonel. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester Grade School Junior High Band, under the Direction of Sue Colonel, was featured in performing El Manto Dorado, The Lake of Sorrows, Byzantine Dances, and Faculty Versus Band. Jim Beers Photo
The Junior High Band’s final number titled, “Faculty Verses Band”, by James Ployhar, featured four Chester Grade School teachers who will be retiring at the end of the school year. Shown here Mary Bohnert, Robin Renfroe, Gail Kordys and Steve Colonel march into the center stage area with balloons as part of their portion of the “Faculty Verses Band” performance. The faculty won the battle after numerous outstanding demonstrations of musical genius! Jim Beers Photo
Steve Colonel, a member of the “Faculty” Band, plays the garbage can lids at the 2026 Chester Grade School Spring Concert. Jim Beers Photo
Chester Grade School Principal, Tim Blair, welcomes everyone to the 2026 CGS Spring Concert and Awards Night. He also praised Sue Colonel, CGS Band Director, for her service and dedication to the CGS Music Department over the last 27 years. Mrs. Colonel retired after the conclusion of the school year. Jim Beers Photo