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Arts & Entertainment

Regional Competition Means More than Awards for Band, Choir Students

Regional Solo and Ensemble Festival also provides young artists with feedback on how to improve.

More than 135 Hamilton High School choir and band students performed at the Regional Solo and Ensemble Festival held at Hamilton Saturday.

“Solo and Ensemble Festival is a really good chance for the students to get critiqued by someone they are not used to, and it challenges them to learn a new piece of music outside their comfort zone,” said Hamilton choral director Marilyn Mascitti.

At the regional event, which featured 10 high schools, students performed solos, duets, trios, quartets and ensembles. 

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“It’s fun to see how high of a level I can play to challenge myself, and to hear the finished product,” said freshman Sam Welter, who played a baritone saxophone solo and a piano duet. 

Performers can choose music from a list that includes Class A, B and C pieces.  Class A is the hardest music.  Judges listen to them perform, give them feedback about what they are doing well and what to work on, and then give them a rating of 1 to 5. 

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“The judges give really good feedback about how to improve your singing.  My judge taught me how to breathe before I sing,” said junior Becca Borowski.

The students can apply what they’ve learned to their other music.

“When the judge gives you feedback, you learn what you can fix to make all of your other music better too,” said junior vocalist Abby Angelroth. 

The highest rating is *1, given only to students who play a Class A piece. Those students advance to the state competition at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on April 30.

“You have to work very hard, and have lots of self discipline to practice your music, but it pays off in the end,” said senior Maddie Kuenn, who is headed to state to perform her solo, "Ave Maria” by Charles Gounod. 

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