Jason Sibley and David August earn top Band Awards while Megan Zimmer wins top Chorus Award
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – A long time tradition at Chester High School in the Music Department is the performance of the annual Spring Concert and presentation of end-of-the-year CHS Music Awards. This ritual has gone on for decades and signals the end of year music programming as well as the final performance for the graduating seniors.
This year it also meant the final performance for CHS Band Director, Steve Colonel. Colonel retired at the end of the 2025-26 school year and the 2026 Spring Concert was the closing of his 33 year teaching career. He was the “leader of the band” at Chester High School for 31 of those 33 years.
The CHS Music Department presents several music awards for both band and chorus. Mr. Colonel stated, “In more than one instance this year, I found myself going back and forth between a couple of students to decide who would receive an award. I struggled to narrow it down to one person, and I thought since it was my last year having to make these decisions, I would just give two awards in some cases.”
Band Awards
For band, CHS presented four major awards. The top award for band is the Arion Award. This year was one of those cases in which it was impossible decide on just one person who deserved the top prize. Therefore, there were two equally deserving recipients of the Arion Award. The Co-Recipients included Jason Sibley and David August. Both of these fine young musicians will go to college and major in the field of music. The Runner-Up for the Arion Award was Natalie Guetersloh.
The two other band awards were the Frederick Allmeyer Memorial Award and the Wayne Thorne Memorial Award. The Frederick Allmeyer Memorial Award goes to the most improved sophomore band member or members. Allmeyer was an outstanding musician who enlisted in the U.S. Military after graduating from CHS. He was killed in action in the Viet Nam War. This year’s Frederick Allmeyer Memorial Award winner was presented as a co-award to two deserving sophomores, Alden Davitz and Avery Wittenborn.
The final band award was the Wayne Thorne Memorial Award. Wayne was one of three outstanding, iconic band directors that CHS has had over the past eight decades. His memory lives on as a reminder of his leadership and success. This year’s Wayne Thorne Memorial Award was presented to a senior band member who had demonstrated “exemplary service” to the band over the years. That incredible senior leader and 2026 recipient was Miss Addison Gottschammer.
Chorus Awards
For Chorus, CHS presented three awards. The top award for Chorus is the Arion Award. The 2026 Arion Award winner was Megan Zimmer. Zimmer has decided to make vocal music her career and will attend Millikin University in the fall to study Music Performance.
The 2026 Runner-Up winner of the Vocal Arion Award was Erin Liefer. Liefer made it a point to stay in choir for all four years. She took a solo to the IHSA Music Contest each year and did very well.
The final vocal music award was the Amanda Kahre Memorial Award. This award is presented to an “outstanding first-year Swing Choir member”, who was also the “most improved” first year member. Kahre was a first year member of the swing choir when she tragically died in an automobile accident. She had an infectious personality and had adjusted well to being a “first year” swing choir member as a senior. The 2026 Amanda Kahre Memorial Award winner was, Emma Bogard.
2026 Spring Concert
“Sound Affect” Swing Choir. The concert began with five selections by the “Swing Choir, Sound Affect.” They opened with a song arr. by Kirby Shaw, titled, “I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love with Me. The next song was, “Unforgettable”, arr. by Kirby Shaw, with soloists, David August and Alyssa Stehl. Next was, “High Hopes”, arr. by Ed Lojeski.
The fourth tune was a very familiar and popular rock song, “The Time Warp”, arr. by Andy Beck. This crowd pleaser included soloists, Jason Sibley, Emma Bogard, Elizabeth Wilson, David August, Emily Gruenewald, Natalie Venus, Hannah Stueve, and Justice Mattingly. The “Sound Affect” closed their portion of the show with another rock number titled, “Pinball Wizard”, arr. by Mac Huff.
Recognition of 4-Year Seniors for Band and Chorus.
(Vocal Music honorees). There were just three 4-year vocal music students including David August, Erin Liefer, and Jason Sibley.
(Instrumental Music honorees). There were 20 Four Year members of the CHS Band, including David August, Jacob Casteel, Amelia Crawford, Reed Creason, Mackenzie Deimund, Addison Gottschammer, Emily Gruenewald, Natalie Guetersloh, Anthony Hernandez-Huerta, Ivan Hobbs, Liam Holland, Brayden Juenger, Ryan Junger, Trevor Keeton, Erin Liefer, Jason Sibley, Mason Straight, Brayden Tucker, Elizabeth Wilson, and Megan Zimmer.
(Students that performed in “BOTH” Band and Chorus all four years). David August, Erin Liefer, and Jason Sibley.
“Concert Choir”. The Concert Choir performed five songs in their portion of the concert. They led with, “Music Makers and Dreamers of Dreams”, arr. by Victor C. Johnson, featuring soloist, Megan Zimmer. Second was, “High Flight”, by Laura Farnell. Third was, “Already Home”, arr. by Jay Althouse, featuring soloist, Grace Kirkpatrick.
The fourth selection was, “You Can’t Stop the Beat”, arr. by Ed Lojeski. This lively, popular song rocked CHS’s Colbert Memorial Gymnasium with soloists Megan Zimmer, Caitlyn Hargis, and Grace Kirkpatrick. To close the “Concert Choir” portion of the evening, the students performed, “I’ve Had the Time of My Life”, arr. by Mac Huff, featuring soloists Jason Sibley and Grace Kirkpatrick.
“Concert Band”. The Concert Band finished the concert with five selections, beginning with a long time favorite march, “Bandology”, by Eric Osterling. The second number was, “To the Stars”, by Joshua V. Hinkel. Thirdly, the band performed, “I Am”, by Andrew Boysen Jr.
The fourth song was a rockin’, high energy tune called, “Eighties Flashback”, arr. by Paul Murtha. The band closed the 2026 Spring Concert with, “Armed Forces Medley”, arr. by Bob Lowden.
Mr. Colonel ended the night with a heartfelt good-bye. He thanked everyone for helping to support another successful year of making music. He included the CHS Faculty, Staff, and Maintenance Department for their support and cooperation.
Finally, Mr. Colonel said, “I thank the community for its unwavering support of the Music Department in the Chester School District. We have a rich tradition of musical excellence in Chester, and we’re proud to carry that tradition forward.”
To close the event, Mr. Colonel brought the packed house to tears when he surprised everyone by singing, “For Good” from the heartfelt musical, “Wicked”.
Steve Colonel, CHS Band and Choral Director, welcomes everyone to the 2026 CHS Spring Concert and Awards Night. Jim Beers Photo
The CHS Swing Choir, “Sound Affect” performs at the 2026 CHS Spring Concert. Jim Beers Photo
Pictured are the 20 senior 4-Year Band and Chorus members that were recognized at the 2026 CHS Spring Co0ncert and Awards Night. Jim Beers Photo
Pictured (left to right) are the only three Chester High School seniors that were both band and chorus members all four years at CHS. Jason Sibley, David August, and Erin Liefer. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester High School Concert Choir, under the direction of CHS Choral Director, Steve Colonel, performs at the 2026 CHS Spring Concert and Awards Night. Jim Beers Photo
Megan Zimmer was the winner of the top choral award, the Arion Award, at the 2026 Chester High School Spring Concert and Awards Night. Miss Zimmer graduated from CHS and will attend Millikin University to study Music in the fall of 2026. Jim Beers Photo
David August (left) and Jason Sibley (right) were the Co-Arion Award winners at the 2026 Chester High School Spring Concert and Awards Night. The Arion Award is the top music award for bands and chorus. Both young men will attend college this fall to study music. Jim Beers Photo
Pictured are all Music Award winners for Chester High School for 2026. The awards were presented at the Annual CHS Spring Concert for both Band and Chorus. (Left to right): Emma Bodard, Amanda Kahre Memorial Award for “Outstanding First-Year Swing Choir” member; Erin Liefer, Runner-Up Arion Award for Choir; Megan Zimmer, Arion Award Winner (Top Vocal Award); Alden Davitz & Avery Wittenborn, Co-Frederick Allmeyer Memorial Award winners for being the “Most Improved” sophomore band members; Addison Gottschammer, Wayne Thorne Memorial Award for “exemplary Service to the Band”; Natalie Guertersloh, Runner-Up for the Arion Award for Band; and David Aughst & Jason Sibley, Co-Arion Award winners for Band (The top Bans Award0. Jim Beers Photo
The CHS Concert Band performs, under the direction of Steve Colonel, Instrumental Band Director, at the 2026 CHS Spring Concert and Awards Night. Jim Beers Photo
Chester Music Patrons Officers Vicky and Jim Beers Co-Presidents; David Eggemeyer, Vice President; Tammy Liefer, Secretary-Treasurer; present Steve and Sue Colonel with a going away gift of FREE tickets to any Fox Theatre musical in the 2026-2027 series. Vicky Beers announces the gifts as Retirement Gifts for both Steve and Sue Colonel who retired their music careers at the end of the 2025-26 school year. Jim Beers Photo
Steve Colonel, Chester High School Music Teacher, closes both his final CHS Spring Concert at CHS and his 33-year teaching career by surprising everyone at the 2026 Spring Concert and Awards Night by singing, “For Good” from the hit musical, “Wicked”. Mr. Colonel and his wife Sue Colonel, CGS Band Director, both retired at the end of the 2025-26 school year. Jim Beers Photo