By: Cheyenne Brading
Salem High School band and choir students recently found themselves heading to Floyd Central High School for the solo/ensemble contests. Students were able to pick out their own pieces to play in front of a judge, and then receive a rating based on their performance. They performed solos and ensembles for a judge, to be rated and rewarded at the end of the contest.
Band Director Brittany Hildenbrand expressed pride in the students for representing Salem at the event, as well as for every student receiving an award for their pieces. Salem earned 12 gold and 5 silver ratings.
“There's nothing like the courage it takes to play a piece of music in front of a judge and receive a rating,” she said.
In Group I, Billy Reynolds, Darius Porter, Elaine Houchin and Emily Setser received a gold rating, advancing to the state competition. In Group II, Lizzy Love and Maddie Brown received gold and McKenna Miller received silver in piano.
One student, junior Anna Hobbs, performed both a solo and ensemble, playing Sicilienne and Gigue by G.F. Handel for her solo and English Ballad for her ensemble. Hobbs said the decision process of these pieces were simple enough, aiming for something playable for inexperienced students that were a part of her ensemble.
She decided to play her solo with a tenor saxophone rather than alto due to her preference for tenor. She recounts that the ensemble was difficult to work with due to the other group members being relatively new to saxophone. One member had only been playing for two weeks by the time of the performance.
Hobbs remembers feeling a little anxious at the thought of not receiving a gold, although she was confident enough throughout the performance. She later earned a gold for both pieces, and because her solo was in group I, Hobbs had the opportunity to participate at state on Feb. 24.
“I felt like it was a good challenge, and I enjoyed the way it sounded,” she said.
Hobbs won silver in the state competition for her Tenor Saxophone solo.
Freshman Madison Setser performed alongside Hobbs for her ensemble as well. Setser reported being nervous to showcase the piece as she and the other member of their group were fairly new.
“Anna Hobbs chose our piece to fit our skill levels,” said Setser.
She said they ran into a few troubles with finding time to practice, and that it was a little stressful to perform in front of a judge, but she was happy to have the experience.
“It was fun and I'll probably do it again next year,” she said.
Senior choir student Darius Porter felt nervous for his performance, but said he was much more confident this year than previous years. He sang the French song, Nuit d’etoiles, by Claude debussy. He went for this song to challenge himself in a foreign language, one he's been studying throughout high school.
Porter explained the two rounds of solo/ensemble, the first being district level, held at Floyd Central High School. If the student(s) receive a gold in group one, they are eligible for state level, held at Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis.
Porter received a gold with vocal distinction, which is the highest award a soloist can obtain. He reflected on his ability to grow as a choir member, especially throughout his choir career.
“I received the highest score I have gotten in my six years of competing,” he said.
He stated that his biggest hurdle was overcoming his nerves regarding the contest, reflecting on before the competition, when he would perform for his class frequently to overcome that nervousness.
“I'm really glad that I have gotten to participate with this over the past six years…I recommend that everyone who is inclined to music, join choir and take opportunities (like ISSMA) to enhance their abilities,” he said.