105 students from the Bremen Band program traveled to Plymouth High School to perform in the 2017 ISSMA Solo/Ensemble Festival today, and the results were superb.
Students spent the previous two months preparing solo and ensemble performances for this date. Students performed for the public with a judge, who gave them a rating based on the quality of their performance. Here's some statistics for our performances today:
Bremen Middle School Band:
14 Gold (Superior, Excellent) ratings
11 Silver (Good) ratings
1 Bronze (Fair) rating
Bremen High School Band:
33 Gold (Superior, Excellent) ratings
4 Silver (Good) ratings
Students who enter into the most advanced difficulty category (called Group I) and earn a gold rating qualify to perform at the State Festival in Indianapolis on February 25th. Group I music consists of advanced high school and college level repertoire prepared by our advanced students. This year our group of students that qualified for this honor were historically unique in several ways. Highlights among this group include:
100% success rate in qualifying for state for the first time in the 11 years I have taught.
A record number of entries for state (30 entries, in 4 ensembles and 14 solos performed by 19 students)
In 11 years, our first ever perfect score for a state finalist entry (Nicholas Bailey on the baritone)
An 8th grade marimba player (Jeremy Prawat) who played his Group I solo from memory and received a nearly perfect score.
One student (Joshua Staiger, sophomore clarinet) qualified for state three times (1 solo and 2 ensembles)
Because of the sheer amount of work it takes to qualify for state, I would like to recognize each one of these students for their achievement:
Solos qualifying for State:
Nicholas Bailey (Senior Euphonium)
Ellen Fox (Senior Flute)
Michael Gallegos (Senior Flugel)
Daniel Hochstetler (Senior Trombone)
Jessica Hughes (Senior Alto Saxophone)
Jessica Jimenez (Senior Clarinet)
Genesis Matthews (Senior Piccolo)
Jonathan Blystone (Junior Euphonium)
Elizabeth Clinger (Junior Flute)
Abigail Harman (Junior Alto Saxophone)
Brooke Kertai (Junior Euphonium)
Parker Pace (Junior Alto Saxophone)
Andrew Prawat (Junior Clarinet)
Joshua Staiger (Sophomore Clarinet)
Jeremy Prawat (8th grade Marimba)
Ensembles qualifying for State:
Clarinet Quartet:
Jessica Jimenez (Senior Clarinet)
Andrew Prawat (Junior Clarinet)
Joshua Staiger (Sophomore Clarinet)
Freeman Patterson (Sophomore Bass Clarinet)
Woodwind Trio:
Genesis Matthews (Senior Flute)
Alyssa Bailey (Junior Flute)
Joshua Staiger (Sophomore Clarinet)
Saxophone Trio:
Jessica Hughes (Senior Alto Saxophone)
Parker Pace (Junior Tenor Saxophone)
Zachary DeBaets (Senior Baritone Saxophone)
Brass Quintet:
Michael Gallegos (Senior Trumpet)
Haylee King (Junior Trumpet)
Uriel Ramirez (Sophomore F Horn)
Daniel Hochstetler (Senior Trombone)
Nicholas Bailey (Senior Baritone)
Still reading? Check out this list of students who were within one point of a perfect score in all difficulty levels. This is quite difficult to achieve.
Solos within 1 point of a perfect score:
Nicholas Bailey (Senior Euphonium) PERFECT SCORE, STATE QUALIFIER
Anna Leeper (Sophomore Trumpet)
Jeremy Prawat (8th Grade Marimba) STATE QUALIFIER
Kelly Jones (8th Grade Tuba)
Isabella Padilla (6th Grade Clarinet)
Ensembles within 1 point of a perfect score:
Woodwind Trio:
Julianne Lawmaster (Freshman Flute)
Katy Whittaker (Freshman Flute)
Haley Pace (Freshman Clarinet)
Saxophone Trio:
Jessica Hughes (Senior Alto Saxophone)
Parker Pace (Junior Tenor Saxophone)
Zachary DeBaets (Senior Baritone Saxophone)
Want to see the full results for every student? Here's a spreadsheet.
It is difficult to adequately express the pride I have in the Bremen Band program today. So many students put in so much time, and there were so many wonderful success stories even beyond the few listed above. These students deserve our recognition-- if you know any of these band students, congratulate them! Feel free to share this success online and beyond-- these accomplishments represent some of the best examples of what Bremen Public Schools have to offer. Thank you students for your hard work, and parents for your support.