Pierce Competes at District Music Contest
By Elizabeth Furstenau
The day was opened with the Pierce band receiving a 1+, the choir receiving a 1+ and wrapped up with 32 small groups all receiving either a 1 or 2 rating on Friday, April 19, as the Pierce High band and choir students made their mark on this year’s district music contest.
Every year students and directors make their way to the theater for DMC to compete against one another musically. Each group can either receive a 1-4, with 1 being the best, or a 1+ which means they deserved a higher rating.
Pierce showed off their skills in many different categories. The choir students not only harmonized as a group, but also as individuals. Each member sang a solo or a duet. The band also played as a group, plus a few solos, duets, and small groups.
The concert band performed the songs “2nd Suite in F” and “Choose Joy” and received a 1+. The jazz band played “Crescent River Ramble Star Eyes” and “Brass Machine” and received a 1+.
The percussion ensemble received a 1.
Later in the day, students performed apart from the band. Individual performances and their ratings are as follows: Lillian Blank 2 (clarinet solo), Zoey Ebmeier 2 (flute solo), Braxtynne Emerson 1 (flute solo), Addison Frye 1 (alto saxophone solo), Mya Johnson 1 (flute solo), Jayna Prochaska 1 (alto saxophone solo), Ashley Wacker 2 (flute solo), Aubrie Zimmerman 1 (clarinet solo), Kaylee Steffen 1 (violin solo), Amelia Ahlers and Steffen 1 (tenor sax duet), Blank and Makayla Shefl 1 (flute/clarinet duet), Blank and Zimmerman 1 (clarinet duet), Ebmeier and Johnson 1 (flute duet #1), 4 in a group 1 (saxophone quartet), Hadleigh Collison and Johnson 1 (flute duet #2), 8 in a group 1 (Dixieland Band), Tate Reinke and Spencer Sindt 1 (trombone duet), Trayton Christiansen 1 (trumpet solo), Reinke 1 (trombone solo), Sindt 1 (trombone solo), Travis Emory 1 (marimba solo), Emory 1 (timpani solo).
“Going into the contest, I was super nervous and excited at the same time. You never know what the judges are going to think. After the contest, I could tell that our band's hard work had paid off,” states band member Johnson.
The choir sang “Sisi Ni Moja” and “River Jordan” and received a 1+.
After the group sang their hearts out, it was time for the choir solos and duets. Singers and their ratings are as follows: Collison 2 (soprano/alto voice), Breanna Lindstrom 2 (soprano/alto voice), Reinke and Emma Risinger 1 (vocal duet #3), Collison and Wacker 2 (vocal duet #2), Sara Thomsen 2 (soprano/alto voice), Wacker 2 (soprano/alto voice), Ebmeier 2 (soprano/alto voice), Risinger 2 (soprano/alto voice), Jamie Sackville 2 (soprano/alto voice), Brianna Rundell and Thomsen 2 (vocal duet #1).
“I am proud of everyone for how well they performed at DMC. I know personally my favorite moment was having the opening solo for the choir and getting to perform it on Johnny Carson stage.” says choir and band member Thomsen.
The choir will have a final concert on Friday, May 3, at 7 p.m., while the band will perform a final concert on Monday, April 29, at 7 p.m.
Congratulations to everyone who participated.
