Musicians bring home eight first superiors, 11 firsts

On Saturday, March 16, Du Quoin Middle School band students participated in the Illinois Grade School Music Association's (IGSMA) Solo and Ensemble contest. Hundreds of students from all over Southern Illinois participated in the music contest. Twenty-one band and music students represented Du Quoin Middle School in the contest. Students began preparing for the contest in January. Their hard work and practice paid off on Saturday. Overall the students took home one second division rating, 11 first division ratings and eight first Superior ratings.

Students that earned a first Superior rating were Summer Tucker, Emily Hamburger (flutes), Maddie Haggard (clarinets), Kayla Deen, Abi Alvarado (trumpets), Nathan Manning (trombone), Reagan Tilley (baritone) and Chance Genesio (percussion).

Students earning a first rating were Will Rea (piano), Lindsay Feltmeyer, Emily Born (clarinets), Zach Lilly, Jackson Melvin, Paxton Higgerson (saxophones), Dalen Foster, Madison Dorsey (trumpet), Olivia Whitley (trombone), Madison Worthington (baritone), Nathan Gates and Christian Feltmeyer (percussion).

Student who earned a second rating was Delainey File (saxophone).

The Marching Warriors then performed on Saturday, March 23. The band competed at the IGSMA organizational full band contest held at Murphysboro Middle School. Rehearsals were earlier in the day and the performance was at 11:30 a.m. The band took second.