By Crystal Hayduk
Six Chelsea School District music students have earned the distinct honor of performing at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids during the 11th annual Michigan Music Conference, Jan. 21-23.
CHOIR
Seventh grade choir students Rachel Bareis and Adrienne Pinard Graham will be performing in the Middle School SA (soprano-alto) Honors Choir on Jan. 21. According to Andrea Miller, choral director at Beach Middle School, Bareis and Graham made a “substantial commitment” last October when they decided to try out for the honors choir. Students prepare two audition pieces to sing in parts, attend four mandatory all-day Saturday rehearsals, and “… spend a great deal of extra time learning and memorizing all of their music,” said Miller.
“The audition was the hardest part so far,” said Bareis. “We had to get up very early to go to South Lyon, and we were really nervous.”
Graham agreed that it has been a great experience, and credited Miller for all of the help she provided.
According to Miller, 288 students statewide auditioned for the Middle School SA
Honors Choir, but only 125 students were selected.
The Honors Choir is sponsored by the MSVMA (Michigan School Vocal Music Association).
BAND
Eighth grader Kara Feldkamp, bass clarinetist, and seventh grader Makenna Ford, bassoonist, will represent Chelsea’s band in the All-State Middle School Band concert on Jan. 23.
Jim Otto, middle school band teacher, said that band students who auditioned for the All-State performance traveled to Saline High School last October where they were assigned a number, then audio-recorded while playing two octaves of five scales, two etudes, and a previously unknown selection to determine their sight-reading abilities.
Judges listened to the recordings of students from around the state, ranked them according to ability, and then filled jazz, middle school, and high school bands.
Feldkamp said that the audition process was stressful, but she’s having fun with her music and is looking forward to her first experience playing with the All-State band.
ORCHESTRA
Junior violinist Lee Argir will make his second appearance performing with the All-State Orchestra on Jan. 23. He participated a year ago as a sophomore, which attests to his talent and hard work, since earning placement at the high school level is extremely difficult, according to Jed Fritzemeier, orchestra director.
Another talented violinist, senior Aidan Carry, will also participate this year. Carry earned a place in the Middle School All-State Orchestra when he was in eighth grade. He has auditioned annually since he was in seventh grade, and is thrilled to end his high school career with a return visit to this amazing venue.
Eighth grader Thomas Kennings, who plays the violin, earned Honorable Mention.
Fritzemeier said that orchestra students undergo a similar audition process to band students. They also sight-read a new piece of music, but they perform three octaves of five scales and excerpts from standard orchestral repertoire instead of etudes.
The MSBOA (Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association) sponsors both the band and orchestra concerts. About 2,500 students from around the state audition for a total of 400 places in five ensembles. Band and orchestra students assemble together for two days of group rehearsals prior to the final concert on Saturday.
According to the Michigan Music Conference website, “The 2015 attendance included approximately 9,000 teachers, administrators, students, speakers, and guests.” The conference exists to “… provide relevant professional development and vibrant musical experiences that support music education for educators and their students.”
“I’m looking forward to making music on a grand scale with everyone working hard,” said Argir in anticipation of the conference. “We miss two days of school to go to Grand Rapids, and it’s hard to make up all that class work; but the experience is incredible and totally worth it.”
