By Crystal Hayduk
Three Chelsea High School (CHS) music students head to Grand Rapids this week to rehearse and perform with the best high school musicians in the state during the 14th annual Michigan Music Conference (MMC), held Jan. 24-26 at DeVos Place.
A fourth student was also chosen, but will be unable to attend.
Senior Charlie Dahlgren (trumpet) is pleased to be selected for the wind symphony, since it was only his second time auditioning for All-State Band. “Lots of students begin auditioning in seventh grade, and still never get to go,” he said.
This year was also the second attempt for junior Teresa Wozniak (flute), who will join Dahlgren in the wind symphony.
Sophomore Makenna Ford (bassoon) will be returning to MMC for the second time. She earned a place in 2016 when she was only in seventh grade – an amazing accomplishment for a young student playing the bassoon, one of the most difficult woodwind instruments. Even though she is in the band, she will play with the All-State Orchestra at the conference.
Ford said she didn’t expect to be selected this year because immediately prior to her audition in Saline, a younger student discovered serious problems with his instrument that would make it impossible for him to audition, so she loaned him hers.
“I wanted to give him a chance, even though I didn’t know him and didn’t know if I’d get my bassoon back in the best shape,” she said.
Senior Emmett Henry, an orchestra student who plays the viola, was also selected for All-State Orchestra after four years of auditions.
However, Jan. 26 is the same day as one of his college music auditions. Since he hopes to study viola performance in college, he decided to give up his chair at All-State in favor of improving his chances for a spot in a university music program.
“It’s not just the one day. It also means I can spend more time practicing music for the college auditions if I’m not also practicing for All-State,” he said.
CHS Band Director Rick Catherman said, “I am extremely proud of all of our Chelsea band members in everything that they do, and am grateful for their continued dedication and commitment which allows the Chelsea Bands to continue a tradition of performance excellence.”
He said, “The three students selected with All-State Honors this year are all well-deserving and have earned their place among the finest instrumental student musicians in Michigan. Charlie, Makenna, and Teresa will do a great job in representing the Chelsea Bands, our school, and our community.”
All-State concerts are made possible through the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA). Students undergo a challenging, blind recorded audition that includes prepared music, scales, an etude (for band students), and a sight-reading test. The MSBOA website stated that there were 2,700 auditions for five ensembles.
From the MMC website, “The purpose of the Michigan Music Conference is to provide relevant professional development and vibrant musical experiences that support music education for educators and their students.”
