CGS students hit high note at IGSMA contest

Students at Chester Grade School put their musical talents to the challenge during the 2018 Illinois Grade School Music Association District 3 Solo and Ensemble Contest, held March 10 at the Chester High School.

Chester Grade School entered 98 events or performances. There were 82 solo performances and 16 ensemble performances. An ensemble was two or more musicians playing instrumentally or singing together.

Each musician or ensemble was rated on tonal quality, intonation, rhythm, technique, interpretation, diction, and various performance factors. A panel of four IGSMA judges evaluated each performance based upon several criteria. All rating points were totaled for a final score and rating of superior, excellent, good, fair or poor.

At the end of the day, CGS earned five superior solo ratings, 73 excellent solo ratings, and four good ratings for solos. Of the 16 ensemble performances, CGS earned two superior ratings, 13 excellent ratings and one good rating. In summary, the Grade School musicians earned seven superior ratings, 86 excellent ratings and five good ratings.

In the solo category, there were five superior ratings including Kaleb Rehmer, piano; Candis Knapp, vocal; Catherine Lee, vocal; Gwen Turner, saxophone; and Kaleb Rehmer, tuba.

A total of 73 students earned excellent or first place ratings, including Jackson Welge, piano; Bethany Baughman, flute; Gabby Keasling, clarinet; Hannah Kaempfe, piano; Skyla Niemeyer, flute; Haley Hoskin, clarinet; Chloe Miller, clarinet; Kaylie Springston, flute; Mabry Wingerter, clarinet; Daphney Helmers, flute; Hannah Kaempfe, clarinet; and Amanda Kennon, alto saxophone.

Other excellent solo performances included: Josalynn Anaya, flute; Chazidy Quintana, trumpet; Dyson Helmers, trumpet; Ellen McCormick, flute; Kaycie Wunderlich, clarinet; Aden McFarland, bass clarinet; Macy Rayburn, clarinet; Jillian Ward, flute; Elseah Congiardo, alto saxophone; Rylie McDonough, tenor saxophone; Isiah Ferrell, baritone saxophone; and Maison Shemonic, alto saxophone.

More excellent solo performances included: Alayna Essary, alto saxophone; Tia Martinez, flute; Abby Todd, flute; Jackson Welge, alto saxophone; Nate Hauer, trumpet; Kailyn Absher, vocal; Jessica Ixcoy, flute; Armani Bell, clarinet; Garret Hopkins; Oddessy Flores, vocal; Hannah Blechle, flute; Ashtyn Colvis, clarinet; and Joseph McLain, trumpet.

Excellent solo performances continued with Savanna Guebert, vocal; Madison Britt, flute; Emma Eggemeyer, clarinet; Joel Buskohl, trombone; Candis Knapp, flute; Oddessy Flores, clarinet; Chase Gilbert, trombone; Kylie Heins, clarinet; Gwen Stirnaman, bells; Maria Nickel, vocal; Reese McCormick, clarinet; David Sullivan, trombone; Cayla Sibley, vocal; and Maria Nickel, clarinet.

Additional excellent performances included Julia Venus, vocal, Julia Venus, clarinet; Mason Werner, trumpet; Lily Lochhead, tenor saxophone; Noah Wetzel, trumpet; Clayton Andrews, alto saxophone; Trace Fricke, trumpet; Anna Childs, alto saxophone; Jacob Handel, trumpet; Blake Huffman, alto saxophone; and Catherine Lee, alto saxophone.

Twelve more excellent solo performances included Logan Mueller, tuba; Gavin Cowan, snare drum; Josh Sims, snare drum; Chelsea August, snare drum; Kerringtyn Malley, snare drum; Lily Smith snare drum; Haley Haslett, vocal; Kaleb Rehmer, vocal; Brayden Ridings, trombone; Chelsea August, vocal; Tulsa Addison, vocal; Emma Brant, vocal; Gwen Turner, vocal; and Michaela Page, vocal.

There were four second place or good ratings for solo performances including: Rilee Owens, trumpet; Patsyfaye Guidry, vocal; Jonathan Renfroe, trombone; and Rilee Owens, vocal.

In the ensemble category there were two superior performances including: Heins, et al, clarinet choir; and August, et al, membrane percussion.

There were 13 first place or excellent ensemble performances including: Helmers, et al, mixed wind; Shemonic, et al, saxophone; Anaya, et al, mixed woodwind; Ward, et al, mixed woodwind; Springston, et al, mixed woodwind; Kaempfe, et al, mixed woodwind; Miller, et al, clarinet; Keasling, et al, mixed woodwind; Todd, et al, mixed woodwind; Ixcoy, et al, flute; McLain, et al, mixed brass; Ferrell, et al, mixed wind; and Handel, et al, brass choir.

Finally, there was one second place or good ensemble rating for Lee, et al, clarinet ensemble.

Sue Colonel, CGS Instrumental Band Director and Steve Colonel, CGS Vocal Director, were pleased with the outcome.

"This was a very good experience for those students who want to advance to the 2018 IGSMA State Solo and Ensemble Contest," Sue Colonel said, "We had 93 students qualify to advance and I certainly hope that many of them will take the next step and prepare their solos and ensembles for state."

Those students wishing to advance to state will have that opportunity May 5 at Unity Point Grade School in Carbondale. The Grade School Band and Chorus will compete at the 2018 IGSMA Organizational Contest April 6 at Marion.