ADM Middle School Bands Shine in a Winter Full of Performances and Honors
The ADM Middle School band students have been part of many events this winter! First, on January 20, four students were chosen to take part in the Middle School Orpheus Honor Band at Simpson College. Nico Seifert (percussion), Sully Holland (trumpet), Catherine Rowley (clarinet), and Kendall Van (flute) spent the day with other middle school band students. They prepared a concert for their families that evening. The concert was a big success. These four students represented ADM very well at the event!
On Saturday, February 14, both the 7th and 8th grade bands took part in the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association (SCIBA) Large Group Contest at Norwalk. At this event, both bands received a Division I (Excellent) rating. The students also took part in a clinic learning session with two area band directors.
The Solo & Ensemble Contest was on Saturday, February 21 at ADM. Every middle school band student performed a solo or duet for a judge and their family. The judges gave each student a rating and feedback. This feedback helps students improve as musicians. Eight middle school students were chosen as Best of Center Performers. They were Emerson Willms and Olivia Janousek (flute duet), Harper Chapman (trumpet solo), Sullivan Holland (trumpet solo), Lily Fuller (trombone solo), Lewis Holland (snare solo), William Schwarte (trumpet solo), and Leah Melgar (clarinet solo).
Next up was the Ballard Jazz Festival at Ballard High School. The ADM Middle School Red Jazz Band played at this event for the first time. They won 2nd place! The students had another chance to learn from an expert at this event. It was a great learning experience! Lily Fuller was chosen as the Outstanding Soloist for our ADM Red Band.
Finally, the students performed in two concerts at home. These concerts celebrated all their hard work and achievements! The first concert was the Parade of Bands Concert on Tuesday, March 3. All band students in 5th through 12th grade performed. It was a lot of music in a short time. The concert ended with a combined performance of "How to Train Your Dragon" by John Powell. Johnnie Vinson arranged the music. The jazz bands and selected band soloists had their last concert of the season on Sunday, March 8. This was at the ADM Fine Arts Night. It was a great winter of making music and learning at the middle school!
