Highland’s Logsdon, Canton’s Jansen Shine at State Music Festival
Columbia, MO – Highland High School’s Eva Logsdon and Canton High School’s Max Jansen earned top-three honors at the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) State Music Festival, held May 1–3 on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia. Competing in the Vocal Solo category, Eva brought home a silver medal (2nd place), while Max earned a bronze (3rd place), placing them among the top vocal performers in the state.
Eva, a sophomore, performed Loveliest of Trees by John Duke and Vergin Tutta Amor by Francesco Durante. Meanwhile, Max, also a sophomore, sang Sea Fever by Mark Andrews and There Was a Mighty Monarch by Ludwig van Beethoven.
For both students, the journey to State came with its share of challenges. Max said his biggest obstacles were “performing in front of a lot of people and memorization of the piece.” Eva shared that her challenges were “getting over my nerves, and getting comfortable singing in front of a judge, and singing in front of them.”
However, the opportunity to perform at State meant a lot to both students. Eva said, “It was a really cool opportunity. I was just very excited to be there and see the other talented instrumentalists and vocalists. It was just a cool opportunity for me.” Max enjoyed the experience as well, saying, “The campus out there is really amazing. It was a real fun experience with tons of people there.”
The event was equally meaningful for their teachers. Nathan Sparks of Highland High School said, “Eva is a great worker and has worked so hard, so it’s great to see her and her talents pay off and be rewarded for that—and to expose her to the rest of the world and get her name out there as a vocalist. Because she is an awesome musician and getting to share her talents.”
Lyndon Alderton of Canton reflected on the size and energy of the event and shared his excitement for the future. “It’s always a fun and exciting experience. To go to that particular event, you have upwards of 5,000 kids statewide that attend a three-day event. It’s very exciting, and to hear all of the groups and solos—it’s just an amazing experience.” Alderton also noted Canton’s momentum going into next year: “Max is already looking forward to next year, and other students that have been to Districts—I know they are looking forward to next year. Hopefully we get a few more kids to State next year.”
Mr. Sparks echoed that forward-looking sentiment, saying, “She is a great leader of our vocal and our instrumental program, and she’s only a sophomore this year. She encourages the rest of our students, and they all are better because of her leadership.”
Both Eva and Max join the growing list of high-achieving high school students in Lewis County, and both appear determined and excited for what the future holds—especially as they eye a return to Columbia, with hopes of striking gold next time.
