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Community Corner

Whiz Kids: Skyline Singers Medal at State Competition

Skyline High School's Michelle Bretl and Emma O'Melia gave winning performances at last weekends vocal competition.

Each week, Sammamish Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams who wow us with their accomplishments.

For the week ending Friday, May 6, we congratulate a pair of students from Skyline High School for their singing achievements.

Name, age: Michelle Bretl, 18, and Emma O’Melia, 18

School and Neighborhood: Seniors at , Michelle lives in Sammamish and Emma lives in Klahanie.

Accomplishments: Michelle took 2nd Place in the mezzo-soprano division and Emma took 3rd Place in the soprano division at the State Solo/Ensemble competition in Ellensburg last weekend.

Michelle performed “Chacun a son gout” by Strauss and “Ouvre ton coeur” by Bizet.

Emma performed “Noi Donne Poverine” by W.A. Mozart and “Clair de Lune” composed by Gabriel Fauré.

Key to awesomeness: Both girls went into the competition focused just on trying to perform well. By going in without expectations they managed to perform better than ever before.

Emma, who learned that she had placed high at the end of the competition, admitted to being overwhelmed by the news.

“I was really excited,” said Emma. “I was really happy with my performance.”

Michelle, who wasn’t able to stay for the conclusion of the event, heard about her score from Emma. At first, she thought it was a mean joke. “It was the craziest feeling,” said Michelle.

Very close friends, the two have studied signing and competed together for a long time.

“This is definitely one of our biggest successes,” said Michelle.

Michelle grew up in a musical family and began signing in choir in grade school and began taking vocal lessons in 8th grade. “It’s been a big part of my life,” said Michelle.

Michelle will be studying music at the University of Washington and wants to work in some kind of musical field one day, perhaps as a singer or in music therapy.

Emma also began signing in choir in grade school and began taking vocal lessons in 7th grade. 

Emma will be attending Clark University in Massachusetts and is considering studying music and musical theatre. 

“I’m definitely going to keep studying it,” said Emma.

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Editor's note: This story was originally posted on Friday, May 6. Sammamish Patch wants to hear about amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Whiz Kid. If you know of such a student, please contact Brad Wong, Sammamish Patch editor, at brad.wong@patch.com.

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