Milbank Musicians Excel At Region Contest

Musicians from Milbank High School were rewarded with high marks during the 2017 Region III Solo and Ensemble Music Contest in Watertown Wednesday, February 22.

Twenty-seven vocal soloists and 28 vocal ensemble members from the MHS choir performed. They earned 20 superiors (I), 10 excellents (II) and strong, positive comments for both the large group ensembles. “The two large group ensembles did not receive a rating, because I made the decision for them to use their sheet music when performing,” explained vocal director Miriam Schwenn. “I felt they would be more successful using their music because time did not allow for full memorization of the piece. Therefore, they received comments instead of a rating. I also want to give a special thank you to Leah Pinkert for serving as an accompanist.”

Solo performances were based on tone, intonation, accuracy, interpretation, vocal technique and performance factors such as literature choice and professional conduct. Ensemble groups were also critiqued on balance and blend.

One-hundred and eleven MHS band members took part in the contest, which included 27 solos and 10 ensemble groups. The local musicians were rewarded with 10 superiors, 23 excellents and four goods. “A special thank you to Mrs. Leah Pinkert and Mrs. Deb Rausch for assisting with accompanying,” expressed MHS band director Susan Karels.

All band performances were based on tone, intonation, rhythm, interpretation and musicianship, technique and other performance factors. Each area of concern was worth five points and totaled at the end of each performance for an overall rating.

The scores and ratings vary based upon the various instruments. Brass and woodwind ensemble ratings are – superior (35-31 points), excellent (30-26 points), good (25-21 points), fair (20-16 points) and poor (15 and under points.) Brass and woodwind solo ratings are – superior (30-26 points), excellent (25-21 points), good (20-16 points), fair (15-11 points) and poor (10 and under). The percussion solo and ensemble ratings are – superior (25-21 points), excellent (20-16 points), good (15-11 points), fair (10-6 points) and poor (6 and under points).

Following is the complete list of results for both the vocal and instrumental groups:

Vocal Solos/Ensembles

Kimberlly Aburto – I

Jimmie Berkner – I

Landon Brown – I

Kellie Christians – II

Abbey Converse – I

Kerissa DeBoer – II

Jodi DeVaal – II

Brooke Fraasch – I

Lindsey Geyer – I

Keaton Hagen – I

Ben Harstad – I

Jaden Hoeke – II

Rebecca Loehrer – II

Nathan Loutsch – II

Anna Mathews – II

Chase Pinkert – I

Alaina Rausch – I

Jordan Riley – II

Elisabeth Schwenn – I

Shawn Stemsrud – I

Adam Thomas – I

Taylor Thue – I

Hailey Underwood – I

Amberly Warren – II

Abby Weber – I

Mackenzie Weinkauf – I

Kassidy Wellnitz – I

Vocal Ensembles – Duets

Elsie Rogers and Rhianna Welberg – I

Madi Schulte and MyKayla Thyne – I

Vocal Ensembles – Trios

Taylor Dragt, Claire Mischel and Kimberly Van Sambeek – II

Large Group Ensembles

Devon Balling, Kennedy Hilbrands, Mya Johanson, Caroline Klettke, Christina Lusk, Molly Rick, Sophia Seffrood, Grace Spiering, Montana Swenson and Katie Wollschlager.

Zach Angerhofer, Ethan Bohn, Isaac Fischer, Tim Gabriel, Brandon Hansen, Tanner Kettwig, Nathan Hansen, Alex Popowski, Trevor Schmidt, Conner VanVooren and Ben Wagner.

Instrumental Solos

Kimberlly Aburto – II

Zach Angerhofer – II

Heather Bray – II

Kellie Christians – II

Jamie DeVaal – III

Jodi DeVaal – II

Brooke Fraasch – II

Allison Grear – II

Keaton Hagen – II

Sadie Holland – II

Kadon Leddy – II

Rebecca Loehrer – I

Christina Lusk – I

Anna Mathews – II

Abby Michels – II

Noah Mursu – I

Chase Pinkert – II

Alaina Rausch – I+

Korinne Roggenbuck – II

Sophia Seffrood – II

Crystal Spiering – II

Grace Spiering – II

Shawn Stemsrud – II

Adam Thomas – II

Lily Trapp – I

Kimberly Van Sambeek – II

Sarah Ward – I

Instrumental Ensembles

Flute Choir – Elisabeth Schwenn, Sarah Jarman, Becca Loehrer, Abby Weber, Amberly Warren and Angie Hoeke – I

Flue Choir – Maddie Gustafson, Makenna Osowski, Rhianna Cantine, Savannah Mork, Rhianna Welberg and Caro Klettke – I

Clarinet Quintet – Bailey Frerichs, Kayla Bury, Yulissa Sanchez-Ramierz, Jatana Grajczyk and Abbey Converse – II

Saxophone Ensemble – Jordan Riley, Sara Capp and Kimberly Van Sambeek – I

Trumpet Ensemble – Kimberlly Aburto, Mackayla Schuelke, Keaton Hagen and Trevor Schmidt – II

Percussion Ensemble – Connor Lightfield, Hallie Van Sambeek, Taylor Thue, Nate Bien, Jonny Ash, Isaiah Wollschlager and Maty Lightfield – II

Percussion Ensemble – Stewart Loehrer, Alec Bien, JD Lusk, Cassidy Christians, Elsie Rogers, Noah Steinlicht and Gage Sayler – I

Brass Choir – Nathan Loutsch, Jenny Seehafer, Devon Balling, Mackenzie Weinkauf, Alexa Fraasch, Andrew Falk, Nathan Hansen, Zach Aker, Paige Johnson, Mya Johanson, Jake Sandvig, Allison Grear, Isaac Nolz, Ben Harstad, Tanner Kettwig, Kaleb DeBoer and Brandon Hansen – III

Brass Choir – Yami Arano, Sam Seffrood, Clay Mork, Kaitlyn Schmitt, Casey Yamaura, Landon Brown, Tracy Pillatzki, Elijah Fraasch, Evan Erickson, Brady Femling, Joe Harstad and Darby Wanoriek, III

Woodwind Choir – Mallory Trapp, Savannah Mork, Tatiana Stemsrud, Ashley Spors, McKenna Folk, Cassidy Voeltz, Taylor Balling, Jaden Hoeke, Kylie Roggenbuck, Morgan Kowalski, Zach Angerhofer, Sarah Ward, Jackson McFadden, Brittany Preller, Hali Anderson, Hailey Underwood, Jake Anderson, Tanner Gauer, Ramsey Wieber, Jimmie Berkner, Micah Liebe and Ben Wagner – III