CHS musicians score well at 2010 IHSA State Solo and Ensemble Contest

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Jeff Beers makes CHS history as first "instrumental" student to win the "Best of Day" Award

By Jim?Beers

Staff Writer

Chester High School music students traveled to Carbondale High School Saturday, March 6 to compete in the 2010 Illinois High School Association State Solo and Ensemble Contest. Sixteen different entries competed in eight solos and eight ensembles. For the day-long event Chester students brought home nine 1st Place ratings, six 2nd Place ratings and one 3rd Place rating.

First Place solos included two that were vocal and two that were instrumental. Vocal solos that earned 1st Place ratings included Taylor Crum and Caleb Courier. Crum sang, "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles, while Courier sang "Stars" with music by Claude-Michael Schonberg and lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and Alain Boublil.

Brad Bindel earned a 1st Place rating for his E-Flat Saxophone solo, "Sonata No. 3" and Jeff Beers earned a 1st Place rating for his tuba solo, "Beelzebub". Beers became the first Chester High School "instrumental" student to ever earn the "Best of the Day Award".

Throughout the day each judge keeps track of the numerous performances that take place in his or her rooms. At the end of the day each judge presents an award for the best overall performance that he or she heard in their room. Beers earned that distinction for Judge Ryan Ham in the tuba and low brass performance room.

Two other students in CHS history earned the "Best of the Day" award for "vocal" performances. David Lutz and Christine McClure earned that honor their senior years at CHS.

There were also five 1st Place ratings for vocal ensembles among Chester vocalists throughout the day. The treble ensembles of Alli Petrowske and Holly Hartman earned 1st Place for their performance of "My Favorite Things" as did Jenna Wingerter and Britney Schroeder. "My Favorite Things" comes from "The Sound of Music".

Another treble ensemble earning a 1st Place rating was Jamey Watkins, Daysha Westerman, Dani Homan, Marah Laramore and Megan Marcinkowska who performed, "Popular" from the hit Broadway Musical, "Wicked".

Laura Liefer, Rachel Young, Mollie Laramore, Jamie Chambers, Hilary Best and Amanda Gross sang, "The Shoop, Shoop Song" (It's In his Kiss) featured In The Movie "Mermaids". They earned a 1st Place rating for their catchy, toe-tapping performance.

The final 1st Place vocal performance included Taylor Crum, Tiffani Marshall, Jade Jolly, Ariel Gales, Jordan Clendenin, Megan Atchison and Michaelyn Modglin who performed, "The New Girl In Town" arr. Jay Althouse. Their performance was exciting and caught the attention of everyone in the auditorium.

Chester musicians also earned six 2nd Place ratings. Three were for solo performances and three were for treble vocal ensemble performances. Of the three solo performances one was instrumental and two were vocal solos.

Brad Eggemeyer earned a 2nd Place rating for his trombone solo, "Sonata No. 3". Daniele Hormann earned a 2nd Place rating for her vocal performance of, "A New Life" by Leslie Bricusse and Frank Wildhorn from "Jekyll and Hyde".

Brittany Williams received a 2nd Place rating for her very excellent vocal performance of, "On Eagles Wings". Williams had the unfortunate luck to be rated by a judge that only awarded four 1st Place ratings the entire day. Mr. Colonel was of the opinion that Brittany had deserved a 1st Place rating.

There were also three treble ensemble vocal performances that earned 2nd Place ratings. Mollie Laramore and Marah Laramore sang, "Sisters" from the Motion Picture Irving Berlin's, "White Christmas". This performance was especially unique because both girls are actually sisters. This ensemble also had the misfortune of being rated by the judge that only awarded four 1st Place ratings the entire day.

Elizabeth McClure, Emily Fricke and Elizabeth Picou performed the smash Broadway hit, "Popular" from Wicked. They did an excellent job, but had a few difficulties remembering some of their words. Judge Alice Berry apparently noticed and awarded them a 2nd Place rating.

Finally the treble vocal ensemble of Emily Fricke, Ashley Throop and Elizabeth Picou earned a 2nd Place rating for their performance of, "The Movie In My Mind", from the very popular Broadway musical, "Miss Saigon".

Trent Wagner, a CHS freshman, performed a piano earning a 3rd Place rating. This was his first time performing for an IHSA State Solo and Ensemble Contest.

Director Steve Colonel stated that he was extremely proud of his students for their efforts throughout the day. This was the first time that Chester students had traveled to Carbondale for the IHSA State Solo and Ensemble Contest. He was of the opinion that his students performed well in the day-long event.