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Congratulations to all those involved with the 2017 edition of Whisper, Dreher's Literary Magazine. Whisper was rated "Excellent" by the NCTE, National Council of Teachers of English, one of only three school magazines in the state to be recognized. Art teacher Jennifer Gorlewski is the faculty advisor. Student editors in 2017 were Emma Bliese, Sarah Swan Kloos and Taylor Coones. Many Dreher students contributed their original iterary and artistic creations.
You can enjoy this award-winning publication online at https://www.richlandone.org/Domain/1322.
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The chorus, under the direction of Walter Graham, received the highest possible rating - Superior with Distinction - by the SC Music Educators Association assessment. In 2018 ten choral students were recognized as "All-State" performers: Anna Boesl, Nia Burton, Clavin Coombs, Lauren Gantt, Jean Gonzalez-Flores, Leah Hug, Matthew McKnight, Jamel Reynolds, Raekwon Scott and Gabrielle Smyrl.
Not to be outdone, the concert band, under the direction of Dr. Chris Lee, also received the highest possible rating - Superior with Distinction - from the SC Band Directors Association assessment. Selected to the 2018 All-State Concert Band were Ben Eidson, Luke Smoak, Bryson Stakely and Leon Wang. Selected to All-State Jazz Band were seniors Everett Aguirre, Delaney Dunn and Ben Eidson, junior Luke Smoak and sophomore Derreck Webber.
The South Carolina Band Directors Association awarded Dreher the top honor: Outstanding Performance Award. The award is based on four special accomplishments this year: the Marching Band received a Superior Rating; the Concert Band was rated "Superior with Distinction;" four band members performed with the All-State band and fourteen with the All-Region band; and our musicians received fifteen Superior Ratings for Solo and Ensemble performances.
Our band earned ninth place at the SC State Marching Band Championships.
Members of the Bands of Dreher mentored several students in Ms. Smith-Hill's class this school year as part of United Sound. See scenes from United Sound in concert with the Bands of Dreher: United Sound
Under the direction of Jo Hanna the orchestra was rated "Superior" at the Concert Performance Assessment. Kelsi Hallman was selected as 2018 All-State double bass player. Thirteen orchestra students of earned a Superior Rating at the SCMEA Solo and Ensemble Festival: Olivia Harvey, Hartland Mershon, Gabrielle Boyd, Kelsi Hallman, Grace Stricklin, Grace Benson, Morgan Benson, Rahul Bulusu, Noah Dornik, Blake Craig, Grace Franklin, Eleanor Wachtel and Catie Willm.
At the 2018 PDA/SCITS festival and competition Claire McConnell was awarded a scholarship based upon her performance. Eleven students qualified for the National Competition:
Group Musical - Sydney Largent, Arrington Jones, Raekwon Scott, Demarcus Williams
Solo Musical - Maggie Smith, Salathiah Campbell, Warren Hastie
Monologues - Mary Devall Koenigs and Jamie Porter
Short Film - Mary Devall Koenigs and Alexa Nyberg
Stage Management - Jessa Philp
Drama students also recieved awards for their performances:
Outstanding Set Design - Yedelsa Whitehead; Excellence in Acting - Keke Jones; Honorable Mention in Acting - Gus Burgess, Warren Hastie
AP art teacher Jennifer Gorlewski received the prestigious Mac Arthur Goodwin Award. This award is presented annually by the Columbia Museum of Art to an individual who has demonstrated a substantial hands-on commitment to arts education. Among Ms. Gorlewski's contributions is encouraging her AP Art students to donate 4" by 6" canvases to the Artists for Africa fundraiser. 
Placing first in the photography division at the 2017 South Carolina State Fair was Mary Huth. Julia Rayfield's submission won first place in 2-D Drawing.
