Dana Sloter, clarinet.

Dana is a senior at Richwoods High School, where she is a member of the Symphonic Band, Concert Choir, Scholastic Bowl team, Speech team, madrigal recorder group, and pit orchestra. She is also one of the Marching Band’s drum majors and earned her Drum Major First Class certification from Smith Walbridge Drum Major Clinics.

She is a member of the Central Illinois Youth Symphony, the Peoria Jazz AllStars, the Bradley Honor Band, and the 2008 All-State Honors Band.

Dana has played the clarinet for eight years and studies with David Stewart. She would like to pursue a degree in clarinet performance.

When Dana is not playing music, she enjoys spending time with her friends or family, reading, arranging music, and watching musicals on stage or screen.

Before his untimely death, John Kamarer was a long time member of the Peoria Municipal Band playing alto saxophone and serving as the band manager. John was also the band director at Central Junior High in District 86 for many years. His love of music and his desire to inspire young musicians lives on through this annual competition.

Past Winners

2007 – Mark Donahue, clarinet, Morton High School
2006 – Emily Coon, flute, Morton High School
2005 – Brianna Gipp, oboe, Peoria Christian High School
2004 – Micah Lancaster, horn, Elvista Baptist Academey
2003 – Joshua Lancaster, trumpet, Elvista Baptist Academy
2002 – Kevin Moletti, trumpet, Dunlap High School
2001 – Samantha Inman, flute, Peoria Christian High School
2000 – Jeremy Clark, percussion, Manual High School
1999 – Sarah Robinson, trombone, Manual High School