Four Smith-Cotton High School musicians have accepted scholarships to perform with the band at Missouri State University in Springfield.

Sedalia School District 200
Sedalia School District 200
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Valerio Toderescu-Stavilla, who plays horn, is a four-year letterman and a four-time member of the All-District Band.

Jenna Northcutt earned letters all four years at S-C, playing horn, clarinet and saxophone.

Flute and piccolo player Madilyn Enrietto lettered both years that she attended S-C.
Yeager Coen, who plays trumpet, is a four-year letterman and a four-time member of the All-District Jazz Band; he also was a drum major for the Smith-Cotton Tiger Pride Marching Band for one year.

This is the third consecutive year that multiple Smith-Cotton seniors have joined the music programs at Missouri State. MSU Director of Athletic Bands Dr. Brad Snow is happy to see that pipeline continue.

“A lot of times we find that our current students are our best recruiters,” Snow said. “It always speaks really well when we have … a pipeline between schools. I think that means they are talking to people who are already on campus and are excited to be part of it, too."

Grant Maledy, S-C director of bands, is pleased to see more S-C musicians continuing to work in their craft after high school.

“Ensuring students are performing at the next level, whether at college, professionally, or with community groups is a focus for our program,” he said. “We're thrilled to have four students attending Missouri State this fall to perform with their continuing tradition of outstanding collegiate bands. It is of particular delight for me as an alumnus to see four great kids going from our program here to the one that was so crucial for me. Yeager, Maddie, Jenna and Val have been vital elements of our program and we will miss them dearly."

Maledy’s loss is Snow’s gain, and Snow already sees a lot of positives in the four students.

“I see a lot of enthusiasm, I see people who are ready to start the next chapter of their lives,” Snow said. “I also see how well they are going to fit in with what I know we have on campus already. I am as excited as they are to start the next chapter of their life."

In the photo: Four Smith-Cotton High School seniors have accepted music scholarships to Missouri State University in Springfield. Seated, from left, are seniors Valerio Toderescu-Stavilla, Jenna Northcutt, Madilyn Enrietto and Yeager Coen; back, from left, Smith-Cotton Director of Bands Grant Maledy and MSU Director of Athletic Bands Dr. Brad Snow.

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