"Homeward Bound" qualifies for State Music Festival

MISSOULA – Seeley-Swan High School musicians took their talents to the stage at Sentinel High School April 22 and Big Sky High School April 23 to compete in the annual District Music Festival. The Quartet "Homeward Bound" received the top rating and qualified for the State Music Festival May 7-8. The band and choir each received a ranking of 2, just below the top ranking of 1.

"The theme of the day was they all did the best they possibly could have done with where they were in their learning," SSHS Music Director Janet Morgenstern said. "Are there other schools that are further along? Sure, but who cares. It is not about the other schools, it is about what we can do. I was very happy with their performance."

Morgenstern said she and the students were very nervous. Not only was this the first time any of the students had attended District Music Festival, she had not directed a band at festival in Montana since 2005 and some of the rules had changed. Also the only adjudicator she recognized was John Combes, retired Missoula County Public Schools' Fine Arts supervisor, who hired her at SSHS.

"I was very glad to see a friendly face," Morgenstern said. "They were very understanding."

Morgenstern explained that Combes understood the history of the SSHS Music Program and the gap in the last few years. The last time the band and choir performed as a large group at the Festival was in Spring 2017.

"Combes was so complimentary and wrote so many good comments for the band," Morgenstern said.

There were nine students in the band. They played a few prepared pieces as well as sight read a song. One of the songs the band played named "Neddleton" is a difficult piece that stretched their abilities. However, even though it was challenging, they really wanted to play it.

"The judges really like that and it was nice to see them do so well on it," Morgenstern said.

Both adjudicators gave the band a score of 30, giving them a rank of a high 2, on a scale of 1-3 with 1 being the best. This was one point away from the score of 1.

"A high two is highly complimentary and is a really good thing," Morgenstern said. "Especially a high two on their first festival experience ever is a really good thing so I was thrilled."

There were 17 students in the Choir. They also performed prepared pieces and had to sight read without piano accompaniment, requiring them to pull the notes out of the air.

"The choir was terrified and they did the absolute best they could have done," Morgenstern

The judges were surprised and complimented the choir's energy and volume compared to other Class C Schools. Morgenstern said they received a score of 26 from one adjudicator and a 30 from the other giving them an overall score of 2.

"In both groups, some of my most shy kids were pointed out by the adjudicators for doing some really good stuff," Morgenstern said. "That was a big shot in the arm for them."

Saturday was solos and ensembles. SSHS brought all vocalists to the Festival.

Angel Bruton and Sky Burckhard sang solos, "Angelic Duet" were singers Bruton and Beth Homen and the "Homeward Bound ensemble" included Tyler Neher, Sky Burckhard, Wesley Stevenson and Cadence Mauldin. The quartet qualified for the State Solo and Ensemble Festival May 6-7 in Helena, Montana with their song "Homeward Bound."

Morgenstern said the biggest comment made by all the judges was they loved the students' energy, their passion and vibe they gave off and their positivity. They added the students are also going in the right place for technique with breathing and expression. Areas for improvement included working on consistent tone quality and breath to support it.

Morgenstern appreciated the opportunity to get back to normal. Since the Festival was a victim of the COVID pandemic, the students had never attended. She appreciated the students' attitudes at the Festival. The SSHS Booster Club provided snacks for the students, which the students felt was really thoughtful.

Morgenstern explained they traveled to Missoula on Saturday in the school's Suburban with the music blasting. "They were blasting music, singing along and encouraging each other. The culture that I want to see growing is growing and it just makes me so happy."

Morgenstern continued, "The kids were so scared but they did better than even the concert. That is all I can ask for. It was just the best part of the year."