HERE WE GO!

The tour is upon us! We leave on Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. from the east parking lot doors. Although it seems like there remains lots to do (and there is!) at least I feel like we will get it all accomplished before we leave - we don't have any other choice!!! Today we got out of school at 9:30 a.m. due to snow and I spent all afternoon working on things for tour, the junior high band festival, summer camp , spotlight on senior citizens, and a variety of other things - never a dull moment! I feel like I accomplished a lot though.

Congratulations, part II

Congratulations to MAD Jazz for their superior rating today at solo / ensemble contest! Excellent work. Congrats also go out to the soloists and accompanists for all events - playing a solo for a judge is truly one of the hardest thing we can ever do as a musician. Even if the result wasn't what you hoped for - it is the process that is important. You won, simply by going and doing! I'm proud of all of you!

Congratulations!

Congratulations, Concert Band! The band traveled to USC High School on Monday for the Minnesota State High School League's Large Group Contest. The band performed Mannin Veen by Haydn Wood and Persistence by Richard Saucedo. Both pieces were on the Class I literature list which is the highest (hardest) level of music. The band received scores of 32, 38, and 38 on a 40-point scale. This means the band received an overall rating of Superior.

This marks the 10th consecutive year that the Madelia Concert Band has received superior ratings at contest and the 7th consecutive year that the band has done so performing Class I literature. Way to go!

What is truly impressive to me about this is that we are a 9-12 band with around 70% of the students in grades 9-10. Most of the bigger districts have a 9-10 band and an 11-12 band. The 9-10 bands usually compete performing class III literature. So our MCB 9-10 graders have really done impressive work! It is great working with student musicians who work hard during rehearsals and perform wonderful music with expression, sensitivitiy, and maturity.

MCB members - give me your comments on our contest performance!

March Madness

We say it every year. Every year it is true. While the NCAA has its tournaments, we in the music world have our own version of "March Madness." It is a super busy time and this year it is even worse. The pic above says it all - this is how I feel most days! Monday we go to large group contest, having had incomplete rehearsals for the past two+ weeks. I honestly can't remember the last time everyone was there - perhaps the December concert? That in itself is just crazy. This week we have: contest, our concert, honor choir rehearsal, All-State auditions and preps for next weeks solo/ensemble! Yikes!

In any case, all we can do is hope that in the end, the preparation we have done as individuals and as a group pays off. I'll keep you posted. The word is "madness." Have fun!