Charles City musicians perform well in solo contests

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Once the weather cooperated, the Charles City music department did itself proud.

Iowa State High School Solo and Ensemble contests were held Easter Weekend — on Good Friday and the Monday after Easter — after having to be rescheduled from March because of a snowstorm, and the results were positive for the Comet musicians and singers.

“The choir went on Good Friday and the band went on Easter Monday,” said Charles City High School Band Director Jacob Gassman. “The solo was originally scheduled for the Saturday after spring break, but we received 14 inches of snow. The state just told the schools to organize it, and state-worthy judges were hired.”

All the competition was held in Charles City, and after all was said and done, the high school band received 20 Division I ratings, the orchestra received 12, and the vocal music department received 25.

Isaak Jensen was named “Best of Center” for his Maimba solo, and in the orchestra, Darian Cleveland’s bass solo was named “Best of Center.”  Valerie Allison was named “Best of Center” for her solo in the vocal contest.

The band’s 20 Division I ratings were out of 39 events that participated.

“Anytime we can be over 50 percent on our Division I’s is a good day for us,” said Gassman, who added that students from seniors to freshmen were involved.

“We average 43 percent for Division I’s, and that’s gone up over the last couple of years, so we’re heading in the right direction,” he said.

Bethany Rhine, high school orchestra director, agreed.

“It was just a really good year; the kids worked hard,” she said.

Derek Sturtevant, high school vocal music director, said he was pleased to see more students participating.

“We had 49 events, with 25 Division I ratings,” he said. “That is awesome for us, because last year I took 20 events and we had seven I’s. It’s a huge difference from last year.”

Sturtevant also mentioned that he was pleased that many people were able to help with the students.

“I have so many people willing to come in and help make us successful,” he said.  “I had great accompanists to work with the kids. It was a lot of effort from a lot of different areas to help make this successful.”

For the band, perfect scores were received by Nicole Loftus and Isaak Jensen for snare duet, Derek LaBarge and Carter Johanningmeier for trumpet duet, Nicole Loftus, Wyatt Wolford, Hayden Pleggenkuhle, and Lily Woodard for percussion quartet and Nicole Loftus for Timpani and snare solo.

Division I ratings were Hana Koenigsfield and Samantha Heyer in clarinet duet; Nicole Loftus, Wyatt Wolford, Nathan Schultz, Cael Ruzicka, Lily Woodard, Hayden Pleggenkuhle, Isaak Jensen, Booker Wilder, Tyler Blong and Rebecca Boyd for percussion choir; Carter West for trombone solo; Hana Koenigsfeld, Sami Heyer and Gillian Anderson for clarinet trio; Carrie Field for euphonium solo; Lilly Usher for flute solo; Nathan Shultz, Hayden Pleggenkuhle and Cael Ruzicka for snare trio; Carter Johanningmeier for trumpet solo; Sami Heyer for clarinet solo; Derek LaBarge for trumpet solo; Kylie Effle for bass clarinet solo; Gillian Anderson and Hana Koenigsfeld for clarinet solos; Makenna Jensen for euphonium solo and Kristin George for saxophone solo.

Division I orchestra ratings went to the mixed ensemble of Michael Peterson, Libbie McKeag, Sophia Morton, Thea Montemayor, Rosie Baldus, Benjamin Schwickerath and Darian Cleveland. One ratings also went to Kiki Connell, Justin Heyer, Josie Groesbeck, Sophia Morton, Madison Lincoln and Michael Peterson for violin solos; Allie Cross and Darian Cleveland for bass solos; and to the string duets of Brynn Parks and Madison Lincoln and Sophia Morton and Thea Montemayor. Charles City’s violin choir also received a I rating for its like ensemble.

Charles City had six different vocal ensembles earn Division I ratings: one small choir, and vocal soloists Cael Ruzicka, Olivia Wolfe, Nora Sullivan, McKenna Oleson, Maci Milks, Dylan Parsons, Tyreque Baker, Aaron Montemayor, Ruby Peterson, Lilly Usher, Cinnamon Evans, Gavin Connell, Ashylyn Bauer, John Perez, Yazmeyne Goodsite, Valerie Allison, Madi Lincoln, and Darian Cleveland.