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District Music Festival
Author: MT43 News Reporter
District Music Festival
MT43 News Reporter
You may have noticed during the high school volleyball or basketball games that the BHS pep band is small but mighty. In addition to their pep band duties, they practice the rest of the year as a concert band to perform at the winter and spring high school concerts, as well as, the annual district music festival. The two-day event showcases their talents as a group and as individual performers.
The full concert band has eleven members this spring under the direction of Denise Bakkum, with many of them playing multiple instruments. They traveled to Helena High School on Friday, April 11th, to perform two prepared pieces for the adjudicators. Additionally, they are required to perform a sight-reading test, where they play a musical selection they have never seen with only a quick perusal of the material. The Bulldog Band performed well and received an Excellent rating.
Saturday, April 12th, was set aside for solos or ensembles. In many cases, these musicians have practiced their pieces all school year and are anxious to showcase their skills for the judges. BHS has many talented musicians, and their ratings were as follows:
Superior Ratings: Jazlyn Martin - tenor saxophone solo, Kyla Meissner – piano solo and trumpet solo, and Simon Sanchez – piano solo. Excellent Ratings: Hailey Reinke, Angel & Shalyn Sentinella – woodwind trio, Hailey Hildreth – piano solo, Hailey Hildreth & Tia Tallwhiteman – flute duo, Tia Tallwhiteman – piano solo, Wyatt Simpson – trumpet solo, and Simon Sanchez – trumpet solo.
Students should approach festivals with a focus on improvement of musical skills, not ratings, with the adjudicators often turning their judging into a master class from an accomplished musician. That said, only those soloists and ensembles that have received Superior ratings in their District Festival may take part in the solo and ensemble events at the State Festival.
Good luck to Jazlyn, Simon and Kyla as they travel to Great Falls in May!
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PhotoCredit: MT43 News Photo
Image 1 Caption: Creighton Wright, Wyatt Simpson, Hailey Hildreth, Wyatt Coker, Angel Sentinella, Hailey Reinke, Shalyn Sentinella, Kyla Meissner, Maya Montoya, Tia Tallwhiteman, Kylie Briceno
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