Article: TR Musicians Shine At Music Festival

Several Tongue River High School students attended music festival activities in Buffalo and Sheridan on April 21 and April 22. On Tuesday, April 21, the students left the school at 6:30 a.m. and went to Buffalo High School. There they performed small ensembles, solos, and numerous other things. There were vocal solos from several people in the choir, including Anna Dobrenz, Sam Farnum, Travis Shuck, and Payton Gibson. A trio from the choir performed "El Shaddai." Small ensembles from each section in the band had also performed for the judges in Buffalo. The ensembles consisted of a low brass ensemble, a flute ensemble, clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, and a percussion ensemble. Most of the ensembles received a two from the judges. The rating system is based on a scale of one to five, with one being the best. A few of the ensembles had received a three, but nothing below that. The ensembles and solos had all done pretty well at the music festival in Buffalo. Some solos from Jessie Boll, Chris Maze, and a few other students were also performed at festival.
The full band and full choir performed at Sheridan High School the next day. The band was almost late due to some of the band members taking the ACT that morning. They performed Concert Variations, and three movements of the four featured in John Muir Suite. John Muir Suite was composed by Kirk Vogel, and embodied the beauty and spirit of the Yosemite area in California, experienced by John Muir. The band played the first three movements in the piece, due to time. The choir performed that afternoon. They sang four pieces for festival. The first, Arirang, was a Korean Folk Song, the second, Russian Picnic, was definitely fun to sing. The tenor and soprano solo, performed by Anna Dobrenz and Payton Gibson, was commended by the judges. The third, A Gaelic Blessing, composed by John Rutter, was a slow, moving piece that had several beautiful harmonies. The choir finished off the American Folk Rhapsody. The choir had taken off the choir robes, revealing western looking clothes for the last song. American Folk Rhapsody consisted of three songs; Cindy, Simple Gifts, and Pick a Bale of Cotton. Cindy and Pick a Bale of Cotton were both high energy, fun songs, while Simple Gifts had contrasted it with harmonies and a slower tempo. Both the choir and band had received a two for their performances.
All of the ensembles and solos had done well at festival this year, as did the band and choir. The song choices were appropriate and well performed for festival, showing the true talent of the band, choir, and all the ensembles. All that performed had received nothing less than a three, which was good. Next year will be a new opportunity to show their talent again, with new members and a new director. There are only a few seniors in band that will be leaving the band at the end of this year, and hopefully the band stays strong with all the juniors, sophmores and freshmen that are currently in band.