Students Attend Mid-State Band
Launch the media gallery 1 playerby Kendra Schulz
Twenty-three members of the Pierce High band traveled to Wayne State College for the Mid-State Conference band clinic on Monday, March 4.
The other high schools attending this clinic included Battle Creek, Boone Central, Crofton, Guardian Angels Central Catholic, Hartington Cedar Catholic, Norfolk Catholic, O’Neill, and Wayne. The bands were split up into two different groups consisting of 9th-10th graders and 11th-12th graders. After a day of rehearsals, the students performed a concert.
The 9th-10th grade band played a selection of five songs, including “Alamo,” “Kentucky 1800,” “Encanto,” “Hymn for Band” and “Layla.” Their band was directed by Mr. Rex Barker, the director at Midland University. The students in this band were Dalton Delka (trumpet), Shawn Rinkel (trumpet), Shelby White (trumpet), Ethan Dohman (trumpet), Rebecca Albrecht (baritone sax), Mason Sindelar (trombone), and Mark Venticher (percussion).
The 11th-12th band also played a selection of five songs: “Washington Heights March,” “Of Dark Lords and Ancient Kings,” “Introduction and Dance,” “A Child’s Embrace,” and “The Bare Necessities.” Their band was directed by Dr. Josh Calkin, the associate professor of low brass and assistant director of bands at Wayne State College. The students from Pierce in this band were Jacob Pedersen (trumpet), Caydan Retzlaff (trumpet), Klarissa Norris (flute), Rose Graham (flute), Katrina Meier (oboe), Abbey Fuerhoff (alto saxophone), Kiley Bierman (clarinet), Stephanie Rinkel (clarinet), Kyler Peters (horn), Macie Timm (trombone), Susan Venteicher (baritone), Wyatt Flesner (tuba), Dylan Delka (percussion), and Samantha Svendsen (percussion).
The Pierce band director, Mr. Mike Sindt, said, “The event was a great opportunity for the students in our conference to get together in a non-competitive environment in order to work together and make some great music.”
