Aside from bringing home predominantly I-ratings in all three music departments, four BHS students were named outstanding performers for their respective performance centers. The four outstanding performers include seniors Max Malloy, Mason Musfeldt and Alexa Pomerenk, as well as junior Josh Bacon.
At the contests, there were approximately 616 events held throughout the day for band, choir and orchestra students. The vocal music students had a total of five performance centers, while the instrumental departments had six centers. Previously in Class 4A, this year was the first year for the three departments to compete in Class 3A contests.
Following performances, students received ratings that ranged from superior to poor. A I-rating is superior, a II is excellent, a III is considered good, a IV is fair and a V is poor. Overall, all three departments had strong showings.
Of the 80 BHS students currently participating in band, 40 participated in the solo and ensemble contests, earning 16 I-ratings, 16 II-ratings, three III-ratings while two students received comments only. Although the students had busy schedules, heading directly into contests following spring break, BHS Band Director Melissa Smith said her students did a tremendous job representing the program.
"They go above and beyond and they're willing to make the efforts and put themselves out there," Smith said.
Malloy, a four-year all-state musician, was named an outstanding performer for his marimba solo; Musfeldt, who is a three-year all-stater, earned the honor with his violin solo; Pomerenk, who has been named an all-stater three times, received the recognition with her flute solo; and two-year all-stater Josh Bacon reached the accolade with his French horn solo.
For the orchestra department, a total of 28 students comprised the 20 BHS entries. Orchestra students earned a total of 16 I-ratings and four II-ratings. BHS Orchestra Director David Swenson said he was proud of his students' efforts.
"I was very pleased," Swenson said. "It seemed like they were very well-prepared and I thought they were pretty focused."
After receiving their musical selections in January, the students involved in the contests took the time to perfect their pieces for contests and Swenson said many of his students rose to the occasion.
"They really seemed to take it in stride pretty comfortably and most of them played about as well as they could," he said. "Some of them actually rose to the occasion, I thought, and played better than maybe what we had expected."
For the vocal music entries, BHS students received 14 I-ratings, 13 II-ratings, seven III-ratings, two IV-ratings and one student received comments only.
BHS Vocal Music Director Pamela Grundstad said that the judges vary from center to center and some tend to be more selective than others. Some of her students were a matter of a few points away from receiving the next highest rating. However, Grundstad said she feels that the more difficult a judge can be, oftentimes students will feel more inclined to improve upon their performances the next time around. Although the competition in high school is much more challenging than middle school, Grundstad encouraged underclassmen to participate in the contests because she said the experience helps them grow as musicians.
"I was very pleased with how things turned out," Grundstad said. "It will hopefully encourage them to try it again and it was a great learning experience for them."
The complete results from the 2009 Iowa High School Music Association State Class 3A Solo and Ensemble Contests are listed as follows:
Vocal Music Entries
I-ratings: Hallie Cook, Erin Fosselman, duet performance of Erin Fosselman and Luke Fosselman, Emily Hackenmiller, Scott Hansen, Natasha Honkomp, Adam Houston, Adrianne Meier, Mason Musfeldt, Abby Noelck, A.J. Simmons, Brea Smiley, Abby Ward and Jake Welterlen.
II-ratings: Sam Bass, Meagan Brewer, Stephanie Blomgren, duet performance of Stephanie Blomgren and Adrianne Meier, Lauren Cook, Ashley Garland-Wheeler, duet performance of Scott Hansen and Mitchell McPartland, Spencer Larson, Krista McDaniel, Mitchell McPartland, Lisa O'Neal, duet performance of A.J. Simmons and Jake Welterlen and Audrey Wadzinski.
III-ratings: Quartet performance of Cassidy Bergloff, Meagan Brewer, Katie Harris and Ashley Garland-Wheeler; ninth-grade mixed ensemble of Ben Dighton, Kierra Good, Scott Hansen, Dan Malloy, Mitchell McPartland, Jess Paul, Sierra Pilk, Michael Solomon and Sydney Stecker; quartet performance of Breanna Groen, Lisa Groen, Audrey Wadzinski and Hilary Wadzinski; Kim Hawley, ninth-grade chamber choir, Aaron Sprengeler and Taylor Ward.
IV-ratings: Kayla Haggard and Dani Mitchell.
Comments only: Katie Harris
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I-ratings: Josh Bacon (high brass solo), Aimee Good (piccolo/flute solo), Scott Hansen (Low brass solo), Erin Malloy (clarinet solo), Max Malloy (percussion solo), Maggie Miller (saxophone solo), Erik Phipps (high brass solo), Alexa Pomerenk (piccolo/flute solo), Grant Pomerenk (percussion solo), Michael Solomon (high brass solo), Colin Weaver (high brass solo), Colton Wilkining (percussion solo), Josh Bacon, Max Malloy, Morgan Proksch and Colin Weaver (horn ensemble); Stacie Leeds and Katie Seeman (mixed ensemble); Erin Malloy and Alexa Pomerenk (mixed ensemble) and brass quintet.
II-ratings: Ian Coleman (clarinet solo), Jessica Dearden (piccolo/flute solo), Tyler Harris (low brass solo), Spencer Larson (high brass solo), Dan Malloy (high brass solo), Jordan McDowell (high brass solo), Justin Niday (high brass solo), Sierra Pilk (saxophone solo), Morgan Proksch (high brass solo), Holly Wrage (low brass solo), Nick Yaeger (low brass solo), trumpet ensemble of Brian Fox, Chris Mellett, Brad North and Kris Reinhart; trombone ensemble of Scott Hasen, Tyler Harris and Holly Wrage; trumpet ensemble of Spencer Larson, Aja Porter and Melissa White and clarinet ensemble of Nicole Miller and Sarah Borkowski.
III-ratings: Daniel Baldwin (saxophone solo), Jessica Kramer (piccolo/flute solo) and Philip Swanson (saxophone solo).
Comments only: Flute ensemble of Jessica Dearden and Jessica Kramer and saxophone ensemble of Bill Hitt and Sierra Pilk.
Orchestra Entries
I-ratings: Megan Bathel (violin solo), Paul Carlson (bass solo), Hallie Cook (violin solo), Samantha Lanstrum (viola solo), Steph Leeds (violin solo), Mason Musfeldt (violin solo), Mason Musfeldt (cello solo), Lisa O'Neal (violin solo), Brea Smiley (viola solo), Austin Swenson (bass solo), string ensemble of Brogan Austin, Chuck Babbit, Hallie Cook, Chelsea Duncan, Steph Leeds, Jacquie Michael, Casee Sabeen, Jessie Tourtellot and Heather Wailes; chamber orchestra, string ensemble of Jake Allen, Athena Bowen, Paul Carlson, Kyle Clark, Mason Musfeldt, Kelsey Reynoldson, Amber Schuler, Brea Smiley and Austin Swenson; viola quartet of Chuck Babbitt, Chelsea Duncan, Michael Frank and Jacquie Michael and string quartet of Kyle Clark, Mason Musfeldt, Brea Smiley and Austin Swenson.
II-ratings: Emily Hackenmiller (violin solo), Ashley Pontius (cello solo), Amber Schuler (violin solo) and Alycia Sterenberg (violin solo).
