Two Chaska Middle School West students were recently recognized by state music education organizations.
Nadia Ayouche, an 8th grader at Chaska Middle School West, was selected to play trombone in the Minnesota Band Directors Association 78 State Honor Jazz Band. It is the second year in a row that Ayouche has been selected and performed in the all-star ensemble. The State Honor Jazz Band rehearsed and performed at Anoka-Ramsey Community College on Saturday, Jan. 24. They will perform again at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, at Southwest High School in Minneapolis.
Alex Jorgensen, a 6th grader at Chaska Middle School West, was selected as a recipient of the 2026 Minnesota Music Educators Association Digital Music Media Honors award for his original song he composed titled “83.” His song, which was inspired by Green Day’s hit song “Holiday,” was created using a website called Bandlab. It is a guitar-driven song with a standard verse-chorus-verse-chorus form. Jorgensen was one of eight students in grades 6-12 selected from across the state to receive this honor.
Both students are involved in the music program at Chaska Middle School West, led by teachers Kristen Moon, Eric Songer and Sarah Tailowright.
