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West Michigan Student Showcase Posts

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Published January 3, 2023

West Michigan Student Showcase

The West Michigan Student Showcase has been a staple along the lakeshore  for nearly  42 years.  This annual celebration showcases close to 250 students from 35 different school districts throughout Muskegon, Ottawa, Oceana, Newaygo, and Mason Counties.   

Students are selected by their respective schools in the competitive areas of Digital Media Arts, Literary Arts, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts, as well as the recognition areas of Academics and Athletics. Monetary awards are given in the competitive categories for first, second, and third place, including a Showstopper award in the Performing Arts category.

Join us on March 20 & 21, 2024 at the lovely Frauenthal Theatre to experience this amazing display of local youth talent!

COMING SOON 2024 Timeline

PAST 2023 Nominee & School Timeline

  • Wed., Feb. 1 – Coordinator Nomination Form Due
  • Wed., Feb. 15 – Student Nominee Forms Due. Complete Forms HERE. 
  • Tue., Feb. 21 – Performing Arts Workshop Assignments Announced
  • Fri., Feb. 24 (3pm-5:30pm) – Visual Arts Drop-Off
  • Mon. Feb. 27 (3pm-5:30pm) – Visual Arts Drop-Off
  • Mon, Feb. 27 (5pm-9pm) – Performing Arts Workshop I
  • Mar 1-27 – Visual Art Gallery Exhibition Open, Hilt Building, 2nd Floor
  • Sat. Mar. 4 (9am-2pm) – Performing Arts Workshop II
  • Tue, Mar. 7 – Show Night Assignments Announced
  • Wed. Mar. 15 – Rehearsal (9am-3pm) & Show Date (6pm students arrive, 7pm showtime)
  • Thu., Mar. 16 – Rehearsal (9am-3pm) & Show Date (6pm students arrive, 7pm showtime)
  • Mon., Mar. 27 – Visual Arts Pick-Up
Published March 16, 2023

2023 Showcase Results

Digital Media

  • First Place – Mona Shores High School – “The USB” – Noah Fritzemeier
  • Second Place – Mason County Central High School – “The Lurker” – Brody Shelton
  • Third Place – Artios Academies of West Michigan – “ALONE? The Sisters Revenge” – Isaac Rasmussen

Literary Arts

  • First Place – Grand Haven High School – “Requiem” – Avery Rant
  • Second Place – Muskegon High School – “Conversations With a Father” – Adelyn Witmer
  • Third Place – Artios Academies of West Michigan – “In the Gloaming” – Frankie Kendziera
  • Honorable Mention – White Cloud High School – “Anchors in Time”, “Waking Up,” – Aleyiah Desnoyers
  • Honorable Mention – Whitehall High School – “every single weekend” – Brielle Kohlbeck

Performing Arts

Solo/Duo Category

  • First Place
    Pentwater High School – Solo dance performance to “Ms” by Alt-j, performed by Emily Schwarz
  • Second Place
    Grand Haven High School – Tap dance performance to “Sir Duke” by Yam Haus, performed by Rachel Laws
  • Third Place
    Western Michigan Christian High School – Vocal duet of “Flight” by Craig Carnelia, performed by Emily Matz and Michaela Faith, accompanied by Sherry Merz on piano

Group Category

  • First Place
    Reeths-Puffer High School – Group instrumental ensemble performance of Earth, Wind, and Fire’s “Getaway” by Paul Murtha, performed by SMH Ensemble featuring Faith Andree, Devin Barbier, Isaac Bowne, Nicholas Clemens, Zee Crawford, Braxton Dietz, Lucas Dobry, Jayden Fello, Christian Goode, David Grimard, Levi Kolmus, Konnor Lindstrom, Jillian McGovern, Taylor Poole, and Aidan Roberson
  • Second Place
    Mona Shores High School – Group vocal and jazz instrumental performance of Michael Bublé’s “Feeling Good”, written by Nina Simone, performed by The Marcatos featuring Lia Baldwin, Wes Bell, Noah Boyden, Noah Carr, DJ Craven, John Gates, Isaac Madl, Jack McCann, James Norwood-Kuyers, Collin Patterson, Colin Thompson, Ally Threadgill, Bri Tisch, Shane Tudor, and Mick Wohlfard
  • Third Place
    Grand Haven High School – Group vocal performance of “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen, performed by Haven Harmonics featuring Anuhea Gardner-Huihui, Evangeline Henderson, Reina Jacobson, Autumn Korecki, Laney Leis, Nina Ruberto

Gary W. Ostrom Showstopper Award

  • Holton High School
    Solo vocal performance of “Never Enough” by Loren Allred from musical, The Greatest Showman, performed by Bella Resterhouse

Visual Arts

  • First Place – Shelby High School – “Escape” – Emma Soelberg
  • Second Place – Spring Lake High School – “Flightless” – Anna Hultman
  • Third Place – Grant High School – “Hidden in the Moss” – Hope Olson
  • Honorable Mention – Montague High School – “All of the Time” – Mars Stout
Published March 11, 2023

2023 Tickets

Experience a student event like no other!

Join us on March 15 & 16, 2023 at the Frauenthal Theatre as we watch hundreds of students, from 30 different high schools, across 5 West Michigan counties, showing off their talents! The two-night show will feature different schools each night and will end with an awards ceremony on March 16.  Student performers will showcase entertainment in the way of solo/duo artists, group performances, theater skits and much more! Students with digital media, visual art, and literary art submissions will be recognized on stage each night. Academic and athletic students will be recognized online.

Come for one night or both nights and experience this one-of-a-kind talent show! Which school will take home the grandest honor of them all, the Gary W. Ostrom Showstopper Award? You’ll have to come and see for yourself!  Also, don’t forget to visit the The Reception Gallery at the Hilt Building, March 1-27, to view the visual art submitted by area high school students!

2023 Prices

  • In Advance
    • $10 one night / $15 both nights (adults)
    • $6 one night / $10 both nights (students)
  • At the Door
    • $15 each night (all)

Show Night

A list of which schools will be represented on which night will be listed below:

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Artios Academies of West Michigan
Calvary Christian School
Grant High School
Ludington High School
Mason County Central High School
Mason County Eastern High School
Montague High School
Muskegon Catholic Central High School
Muskegon High School
Newaygo High School
North Muskegon High School
Oakridge High School
Pentwater High School
Ravenna High School
Shelby High School
Spring Lake High School
Western MI Christian High School
White Cloud High School

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Fremont High School
Fruitport High School
Grand Haven High School
Hart High School
Hesperia High School
Holton High School
Mona Shores High School
Orchard View High School
Reeths-Puffer High School
Whitehall High School

Note: All Awards are presented following the show on Thursday night.

e-tix logo

Buying Tickets

Every Showcase nominee receives a free ticket to the performance. Please go to the Box Office during their hours of operation or pre-show to reserve your ticket in-person, as they must check you off from our nominees list to give you your free ticket.

Published March 10, 2023

Awards

Within the categories of Digital Media, Literary, Performing Arts & Visual Art students will be awarded cash prizes, medals and/or trophies based on placement.  Nominee awards are decided on by a team of local judges that are experts within each category.

Prizes are as follows:

  • 1st place – $1,000, medal(s), trophy (traveling)
  • 2nd place – $500, medal(s)
  • 3rd place – $300, medal(s)
  • Honorable Mention – Certificate
  • Gary W. Ostrom Showstopper Award for Performing Arts – $1000

While we recognize winners in each category, celebration, not competition, is our main objective.  Every student that is nominated for Showcase, is a winner.  All of the students’ nominees had a vision within their category and were dedicated to their craft which helped get them to where they are today.