Wednesday, March 4, students of SCHS orchestra attended a large group festival, additionally, orchestra students had a District Solo and Ensemble on Saturday, March 7. SCHS band students also attended a festival held on Saturday, March 7. Both festivals were located at Fort Zumwalt East High School.

For both band and orchestra, preparation for these festivals began months ago. Band students received music at the end of last semester to prepare over winter break. After returning from break, band director Dinah Hotz and assistant band director Stephanie Frosch would listen to student progress throughout the past few months and give feedback while also working through music with students.

Similar to band, orchestra students received festival music in the beginning of January after coming back from winter break. Every class period up until March consisted of orchestra students rehearsing two festival pieces until they were perfected, this includes intonation, rhythm, bowings, and expression. Students also had to prepare for a sight reading component that includes practicing a variety of different pieces without actually practicing on the instruments.

Despite all the hard work students were putting in at school, their progression was highly dependable on practicing outside of school. Results of the festivals strongly reflected the hard work and effort that students put into perfecting their music.

Many students who attended the band festival had never participated before and had not gotten the opportunity to perform and show their talents outside of the classroom. Students who performed received feedback from professionals that they can use going forward in their music progression.

Junior Hudson Bomerschein participated in the band festival where he had a tuba solo and performed “Andante and Allegro” by Robert Clerisse as well as a quintet (a group of five people performing together) and they performed “Earthscape” by David Marlatt. In the quintet, Bomerschein played the tuba with senior Max Sheils on flugelhorn, sophomore Brody Higgins on french horn, sophomore Anthony Cortez-Lopez on trumpet, and junior Jake Crossman on trombone.

Bomerschein wasn’t nervous at all until sitting down in the room to play.

“I think it went really well for my quintet but of course we can always sound better and my solo didn’t go the best, but I still did good enough to take it to state,” Bomerschein said.

Senior Nolan Day attended the orchestra District solo and Ensemble for the first time this year. He played the viola and performed music “J.S. Bach Cello Suite No.1 in G Majo”. When it came to performing, Day played in front of one judge and orchestra director Amanda Davis with friends listening outside of the room.

Day will be going to state, but is more nervous about what to expect as it is held at a larger college.

“I was so nervous to perform, I was so sweaty going in and coming out of the solo room,” Day said.

As far as the outcomes of the festival, directors Dinah Hotz and Amanda Davis are very happy with how things went and believe students represented the school very well.

“I believe that the St. Charles High School students showcased their talents extremely well and represented the district beautifully,” Hotz said.

State for both band and orchestra will be held at Mizzou on Saturday, May 2.