RIVERSIDE
MELODIC FUSION
ALUMNI

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Class of 2020

This is Chloee Barton, she has been a member of Melodic Fusion stage crew for three years. Her favorite memory has to be the Cabell Comp her junior year, everything about it was amazing. She would like to thank her friends she would have never met had it not been for choir. It’s going to be so hard saying goodbye to those who are going to a different college or those who are younger that we have to leave behind. This has been her high school family and She wouldn’t trade it for the world.

This is Drake Bryant, he is a 4 year member in show choir (2 years in Myrtle Beach and 2 years for Riverside). Drake lives in Chesapeake, WV and is the son of Sarah Graham and Steve Bryant. Drake plays basketball and likes to sing. His future plans are to go to college for business and insurance and hopefully will start a business in Houston, TX.

Maddie Dankmyer is a four year member of Melodic Fusion and has been a dance captain all four years. This year she has been fortunate enough to be the Historian and she has enjoyed taking and receiving pictures of everyone and seeing the joy on their faces. Show choir has been a huge part of her life the past four years and she is devastated to see it come to an end, but she wouldn’t trade it for the world. She has been singing since she was able to talk and will continue her love for music in college. Maddie will be attending the University of Charleston in the fall of 2020 where she will be participating in their choirs. She is majoring in Biology and hopes to be accepted into their Physician Assistant program. Even though she will be leaving Melodic Fusion she will never stop being their number one fan. She loves everyone and wishes the best of luck to the future members of Melodic Fusion.

This is Amelia Ford, better known as Meme. She is a four year member of Melodic Fusion and has won the title of “Best Performer,” three times in her high school career. She has been singing and dancing ever since she could, and she is thankful for the many opportunities music has opened for her. Meme plans to go to Marshall University to obtain a major in psychology and a minor in criminology to pursue forensic psychology as a career. Meme wants to give a special shoutout to her mom, Julie Baker, her dad, Micheal Ford, her step mom, Meagan Richardson, and her little brother, Marley Ford, and her grandma, Karen Ford for supporting her throughout the years. She would also like to give a special thanks to her four best friends, Abby Fontalbert, Mallory Szerokman, Bailey and Michelle Grisinger for making countless, amazing memories over her senior year.

Bailey Grisinger is a two year member of Melodic Fusion. Music has always been a passion she has had since she was little. She plans on furthering her education at West Liberty University majoring in Pre-Med to become a Forensic Pathologist. Bailey would like to thank her family for supporting her through everything new she tries. She would also like to thank her best friends Amanda Mason and Amelia Ford for granting her some of the greatest times of her life. Bailey would also like to thank her sister for being her biggest supporter of everything she does and for helping her get through many tough times.

Michelle Grisinger is a one year member of Melodic Fusion. Her passion is mostly in art and animation and wants to become a comic book illustrator. She would like to thank her family and her friends. Her sister Bailey has always had Michelle’s back and been a best friend. Amelia Ford has also been a caring and wonderful person to Michelle as well.

Kaitlyn Keeney is a four year member of Melodic Fusion and a three year member of Vocal Ensemble. Also at Riverside is a member of the Prom Committee and Young Life. In Kaitlyn’s free time she likes to go watch Riverside games, hang out with her friends, and make stuff. She currently serves as the student president of Melodic Fusion and in the past was Historian. She has participated in 3 All State Choirs and 8 All County Choruses. She has played roles in Riverside’s production of The Christmas Carol and Shrek the Musical. In this years competition show she is known as the Scream Painting and won Best Female Soloist for Small Division at The Cabell Midland Competition. She is also the last member of the BRG, where she is the R.
Her favorite memories includes competitions and making friends and getting closer to others. Melodic Fusion let her meet her best friend and future roomie Emma. She plans on furthering her education at Marshall University to study Nursing.
She would like to thank all of her music teachers and influences for helping her through the years. She would also like to say a huge thank you to her friends and family for always being there for her, especially her mom because she has done this all by herself, they are best friends and she wouldn’t know what to do without her.

Emma Nelson is a four year member of Melodic Fusion and has participated in vocal ensemble, chorus, and all-county chorus since 5th grade. She is also involved in Student Council, BETA club, Mu Alpha Theta, and prom committee. In her free time she volunteers for shows with the Charleston Light Opera Guild. Emma has played roles in Mamma Mia, Shrek the Musical (twice), and Oklahoma. This year she was able to lead as the Vice President of Melodic Fusion and has enjoyed teaching the underclassmen what show choir is all about. In the competition show this year she played the part of the Mona Lisa painting. One of her favorite memories of show choir was being the soloist for Rise her sophomore year. This year she will be graduating with high honors and her future plans are to attend Marshall University to study Elementary Education. She will be rooming with her best friend Kaitlyn, who she met in Melodic Fusion. Show Choir has influenced her life and made her the person she is today. She would like to give a shout out to her music teachers that taught her. Emma would also like to thank her parents for always supporting her.

Megan Spelock is a 4-year member of the Riverside Show Choir. She has participated in the All County Kanawha County Chorus Choir for the past 4 years as well. During her junior year, Megan served as a Historian for the group. Megan‘s first musical was in 2018 with the production of “Shrek.”
Megan is also a 4-year member of the Riverside Warrior Band where she plays the flute. During her Sophomore year she was honored to be selected to play in the West Virginia University Honor Band. She is a 3-year member of the Riverside Majorette line that has captured many 1st place awards.
Megan is a 2-year member of the BETA Club and will graduate with High Honors in the top 20 of her graduating class with a 4.2 cumulative GPA. She is also involved in Mu Alpha Theta and Prom Committee.
Megan was chosen as one of two Kanawha County students to participate and work the American Chemical Society’s Project SEED 2019 program at West Virginia State University under the direction of Dr. Micheal Fultz and Undergraduate, Christopher Bias. The goal of this research was to synthesize an acylsugar pesticide to use on crop tomatoes. Megan became the co-author with Undergraduate, Christopher Bias titled, “Organic Synthesis of Acylated Sucrose for Integrated Pest Management.” Megan represented Riverside High School and West Virginia State University at the 17th Annual Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol and was the only high school student in attendance to present her combined work.
The Community Service Organizations outside of school that Megan contributes to are, The GabbyStrong Foundation and the Cedar Grove Volunteer Fire Department’s Fire House Santa. Megan hand knits baby hats for newborn children and the NICU patients and then donates them to “Gabby Strong” for distribution at Women & Children’s Hospital and Cabell Huntington Hospital. Megan helps with various fundraising activities for the CG Fire House Santa all through the year and then also helps with the distribution of toys at Christmas for underprivileged children for the Cedar Grove area communities.
Megan has been accepted into the Chemistry program at Fairmont State University for the 2020 Fall Semester. Current post undergraduate aspirations include attending Pharmacy School at the University of Charleston.
She would like to thank every teacher who has pushed her to her limits. She also would like to thank her close friends and family for always believing in her and making her who she is today.

Class of 2019

This is Ashley Elswick, she has been in the show choir band for 3 years, playing clarinet and alto saxophone. Her favorite memory is from her junior year, 2018, when we grand champed at Menchville!!! Her favorite song from all three years was It’s My Life also from junior year. After high school she plans to attend West Virginia University for her undergrad and doctorate in Political Science.

Brandon Guzman is a four year member. (3 in Show Band 1 in Show Choir) and is currently serving as a bass in Melodic Fusion. Brandon's favorite memories are bus trips to competitions, hanging out during competitions, and being involved in such a wonderful organization. After High school he intends to attend West Virginia State University and obtain his undergraduate degree in chemistry before going on to Marshall to obtain a medical degree. He would like to give special thanks to Ms.Whitener for being given the opportunity to be part of such a splendid group and also a special thanks to Marty Kinder for all the help with choreo. He also wishes to thank all of the great friends he had made in show choir for so many good memories.

This is Richard Hedrick, he is a 3 and 1/2 year member of Melodic Fusion and currently serves as the stage crew and a bass for vocal ensemble. He has been apart of all county and various school productions. Richard’s favorite memories are traveling all over to competitions out of state and Christmas concerts. After high school he is going into the Navy as a Gas Turbine Systems Electrical Technician for 20 years. He would like to thank all of his friends who have been there for him through the years and to always keep moving forward no matter what challenge you may face. Stay Strong.

This is Kaycee Lantz, she is a four year member of Riverside’s show choir Melodic Fusion and currently serves as alto vocal captain. She has been an active participant in all county choir, all state choir, and several school productions. Her favorite memories of show choir include the performance of Shrek: The Musical and hotel stays during overnight competitions. After high school, Kaycee plans to attend West Virginia University and begin her path in pursuance of a career in marketing management and possibly join a dance team during her spare time. Kaycee would like to take a special moment to thank everyone who has impacted her in such a positive and empowering way throughout her journey in the talented arts, it would not have been possible without you all.

This is Sarrah Thompson, 3 year member and current student president of Melodic Fusion. She would like to thank everyone she has been able to make beautiful music with these past three years and everyone who has came to support her and the choir. She would especially like to thank Mr. Hardy and Ms. Whitener for teaching her everything she knows about music as well as being there for her to spill tea with and being there for her when she needed them most. Her special show choir talents include being the best body suit puller upper in town, being the only one who can get a stubborn dress zipped, and singing way too loud. She is the B of the BRG (back row girls), and quite frankly she doesn’t know what she will do without her other BRG members to back her up when she graduates this May. One of the best and funniest memories Sarrah has of show choir is when they were learning Rise at camp junior year and somehow the choreographer had blocked her as the solo position. Just as they transitioned into the solo, her good friend Bailey farted and walked to her spot leaving Sarrah in the center making everyone think it was her that stunk up the room. Although it was embarrassing at first, she can now look back at the memory with all her friends and laugh about it. Laughing with her choir is one of her favorite things about show choir. Sarrah will graduate 15th in her class with high honors. After high school she plans to attend Marshall University’s School of Nursing to become an RN. She hopes to work in labor and delivery or the NICU. Sarrah is very grateful for her time in show choir and is very sad to say goodbye to the family she has made these past years. She wouldn’t trade it for the world.

This Ashton White, she is a four year member of Melodic Fusion. She is currently the Vice President of Melodic Fusion. She has made the All State Choir two years and All county since elementary school. Ashton was also one of the three little pigs and a tap dancing rat in shrek the musical. Ashton was also in Riverside’s production of A Christmas Carol. In 2016-2017 she was Mike Wazowski in the Monsters Ink comp show. Ashton is the “G” in the BRG (back row girls).Her favorite memory from show choir is being very sleep deprived in Steak and Shake after most of the competitions last year. Ashton plans on continuing her education at West Virginia University in the upcoming fall. She plans on studying Psychology and minoring in Music Performance. At WVU she plans on auditioning for one of their groups. She would like to thank former director Mr. Hardy and current director Ms. Whitener for everything she was been taught about music and all the opportunities that they gave her. She also would like to let anyone she’s been in Melodic Fusion with thank you for the impact you’ve made on her life.

Not Pictured:

Seth Cavendish

Marty Kinder

Class of 2018

Nate Barker

Kassidy Hammon

Maggie Bouvette

Bill Messinger

David Tincher

Dominick Gray

Shaina Scott

Class of 2017

Davian Burgess

Dillon Casto-Hudnall

Alexa McPhail