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Marshall student wins music essay contest

Marshall Middle School sixth-grader Ember Skirsky won a nationwide essay contest sponsored by School Band & Orchestra magazine.

Open to students in grades 4-12, the contest required entrants to address the topic: “Now more than ever, music education is important because…”

Marshall orchestra teacher Debbie Price turned the contest into a writing assignment for all students in her classes. Ms. Price submitted the essays to the magazine in November and recently learned from the magazine’s executive director that judges selected Ember’s essay as one of 10 winners.

Ember’s essay touts the important lifelong skills that music education helps students develop: concentration, memorization, focus, hands-on learning and problem-solving in a time when students rely too heavily on electronics, instead of thinking skills, to find answers.

For her essay, selected from among several thousand entries, Ember will receive a $1,000 cash scholarship to further her music education.

Her essay will be posted on the SB&O website and featured in the magazine this summer.

As a result of Ember’s accomplishment, Marshall Middle School also will receive music products from participating co-sponsors.