BARNEVELD - On Saturday, Feb. 20, the Six Rivers East Conference had their annual Solo and Ensemble Festival.
This year's festival was held at Barneveld School, with participants from Albany, Argyle, Barneveld, Black Hawk, Juda, Monticello and Pecatonica. Any music student in grades six through 12 is eligible to participate in the Solo and Ensambles.
The Albany band students represented their school well. For some, it was their very first festival, but others were old pros. Every student received excellent comments to assist them in becoming better musicians.
Albany Middle School
• Critique Only, Sixth Grade Students: Allie Lent (clarinet solo), Melissa Shunk (flute solo), Kylee Blumer (flute solo), Emily Hauri (clarinet solo)
• Class C first, Peyton Bloedel (flute solo), Brennan Bloedel (snare drum solo), Morgan Heuvelman (alto sax solo), Cassey Shunk (bass clarinet solo), Shianne Endress (horn solo), Liz Schroeder (flute solo), Gabrielle Boss (snare drum solo), Devin Deegan and Morgan Heuvelman (alto sax duet), Devin Deegan (alto sax solo) and Joey McNaught (snare drum solo)
• Class C second, Lyndsay Hoesly and Peyton Bloedel (flute duet), Shaliko Harry (flute solo), Casey Mueller (bari sax solo), Samantha Roth/Cassey Shunk (clarinet duet), Subhas Flannery (snare drum solo)
• Class B second, Samantha Roth (clarinet solo, piano solo)
Albany High School
• Class C first, Ingrid Kallgren (oboe solo) and Drew Mather (drum set solo)
• Class B second, Sarah Mueller (clarinet solo)
• Class A first, Michelle Mauerman (snare drum solo)
• Class A first, Joanna Weaver (trumpet solo)
• Class A second, Clare Koopmans (clarinet solo) and Joseph Blumer (trumpet solo)
Solo and Ensemble festivals are run through the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) and are held throughout districts all over Wisconsin.
Each year, WSMA puts together a list of festival music. The list is divided into class levels, A through C. Class C music is for students that have been playing for a few years, Class B is for the more advanced musicians that have been playing a bit longer, and Class A contains the most challenging music for the most advanced musicians. Class A events also have the unique opportunity to go to the State Solo and Ensemble Festival, if selected.
During a performance at Solo and Ensemble, the students introduce themselves, where they are from, and what they are playing, along with something they find interesting about their piece. For students, deciding on what to say is often the most challenging part of the entire performance. After the introduction, students perform for their adjudicator, often with a piano accompanist. Immediately following their performance, students receive some feedback from their adjudicator. Then, students wait for the results to be posted. This is often as nerve-wracking as waiting to perform.
Students are rated on a variety of things, including their overall sound, the accuracy of their playing, and basically how well they made music. Ratings can range from a 1 (the best) to a 5. Students performing in a Class A event may also receive a 1 rating, which would send them to the State Festival at University of Wisconsin-Platteville in April. Sixth grade students are considered "critique only" entries.
They do not receive a scored rating, but will receive many comments from their adjudicator. This allows them to get through a year of Solo and Ensemble without the added stress of a rating. Students that enter as sixth graders often return the following year as seventh graders that are much less nervous.
This year's festival was held at Barneveld School, with participants from Albany, Argyle, Barneveld, Black Hawk, Juda, Monticello and Pecatonica. Any music student in grades six through 12 is eligible to participate in the Solo and Ensambles.
The Albany band students represented their school well. For some, it was their very first festival, but others were old pros. Every student received excellent comments to assist them in becoming better musicians.
Albany Middle School
• Critique Only, Sixth Grade Students: Allie Lent (clarinet solo), Melissa Shunk (flute solo), Kylee Blumer (flute solo), Emily Hauri (clarinet solo)
• Class C first, Peyton Bloedel (flute solo), Brennan Bloedel (snare drum solo), Morgan Heuvelman (alto sax solo), Cassey Shunk (bass clarinet solo), Shianne Endress (horn solo), Liz Schroeder (flute solo), Gabrielle Boss (snare drum solo), Devin Deegan and Morgan Heuvelman (alto sax duet), Devin Deegan (alto sax solo) and Joey McNaught (snare drum solo)
• Class C second, Lyndsay Hoesly and Peyton Bloedel (flute duet), Shaliko Harry (flute solo), Casey Mueller (bari sax solo), Samantha Roth/Cassey Shunk (clarinet duet), Subhas Flannery (snare drum solo)
• Class B second, Samantha Roth (clarinet solo, piano solo)
Albany High School
• Class C first, Ingrid Kallgren (oboe solo) and Drew Mather (drum set solo)
• Class B second, Sarah Mueller (clarinet solo)
• Class A first, Michelle Mauerman (snare drum solo)
• Class A first, Joanna Weaver (trumpet solo)
• Class A second, Clare Koopmans (clarinet solo) and Joseph Blumer (trumpet solo)
Solo and Ensemble festivals are run through the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) and are held throughout districts all over Wisconsin.
Each year, WSMA puts together a list of festival music. The list is divided into class levels, A through C. Class C music is for students that have been playing for a few years, Class B is for the more advanced musicians that have been playing a bit longer, and Class A contains the most challenging music for the most advanced musicians. Class A events also have the unique opportunity to go to the State Solo and Ensemble Festival, if selected.
During a performance at Solo and Ensemble, the students introduce themselves, where they are from, and what they are playing, along with something they find interesting about their piece. For students, deciding on what to say is often the most challenging part of the entire performance. After the introduction, students perform for their adjudicator, often with a piano accompanist. Immediately following their performance, students receive some feedback from their adjudicator. Then, students wait for the results to be posted. This is often as nerve-wracking as waiting to perform.
Students are rated on a variety of things, including their overall sound, the accuracy of their playing, and basically how well they made music. Ratings can range from a 1 (the best) to a 5. Students performing in a Class A event may also receive a 1 rating, which would send them to the State Festival at University of Wisconsin-Platteville in April. Sixth grade students are considered "critique only" entries.
They do not receive a scored rating, but will receive many comments from their adjudicator. This allows them to get through a year of Solo and Ensemble without the added stress of a rating. Students that enter as sixth graders often return the following year as seventh graders that are much less nervous.
