Musicians Take Part in South Dakota Bandmasters Contest

One-hundred and thirty band members from Milbank Middle School and Koch Elementary School performed for the South Dakota Bandmasters Middle School Band Contest Friday and Saturday, April 21-22. The contest, which took place at the Milbank Middle/High School, included 188 total entries. Other schools participating were Big Stone City, Clinton/Graceville/Beardsley and Browns Valley.

All performances were based on criteria such as tone, intonation, technique, interpretation, musical effect and other performance factors. The ratings are Superior (I), Excellent (II), Good (III), and Fair (IV). Judges may decide to add a plus or minus following the rating if he/she chooses.

The instrumentals from Milbank received 34 Superior Plus’, 47 Superiors, 11 Superior Minus’, 24 Excellent Plus’, 20 Excellents, 1 Good Plus and 1 Good Minus.

The 6th grade band and combined 7/8th grade band also received a superior rating from the judge.

“A special thank you to the accompanists Cassidy Christians, Kellie Christians, Elisabeth Schwenn, JD Lusk, Alaina Rausch, Claire Mischel, Sophia Seffrood, Shawn Stemsrud, William Karels, Isaac Sousa, Hailey Hupke, Marion Mischel, Dani Yamaura, Max Lightfield, Elsie Seffrood, Ian Liebe, Peyten Wiese, Eric Van Sambeek, Camryn Wiese, Liz Schulte, Miriam Schwenn, Deb Rausch and Nancy Meyer,” mentioned Susan Karels, Milbank 6-12 grade band director.

Fifth grade band instructors are Mr. Dave Boerger (Koch), Mrs. Deb Rausch (Koch) and Mrs. Susan Karels (St. Lawrence).

Following are the results for the Milbank students:
Superior Plus Solos: Aubrey Fraasch, William Karels, Joe Schulte (2), Rachel Schulte (2), Jack Sandvig, Stevie Ash, Jared Johnson, Luis Berrones, Dani Yamaura, Isaac Sousa, Isaac Schulte, Taryn Dusky, Savannah Stengel, Gauge Stengel, Nadia Thue, Isaac Graham, Hope Karels, Marion Mischel and Camila Monroy.

Superior Solos: Logan Meyer, Zach Ringsaker, Mariah Brandenburger, Amaya Street, Victoria Nelson, Aiden Boerger, Hailey Hupke, Peyten Wiese, Camryn Phinney, Marly Leddy, Max Lightfield, Cassidy Schwagel, Hailie Pillatzki, Drake Rogers, Eli Johnson, Aiden Ludvigson, Maurina Street, Camryn Wiese, Cassidy Schell, Elsie Seffrood, James Batchelor, Ximena Lozano, Carter Phinney, Erica Johnson, Maiah Brown, Shaylee Pekelder, Peyton Gengler, Alexis Ninneman, Eric Van Sambeek, Hattie Muellenbach and Byron Gengler.

Superior Minus Solos: Zoey Henderson, Jessica Van Peursem, Mason Riley, Alayna Henderson, Emma DeBoer, Siri Bien, Mackenzie Michels and Allison Leddy.

Excellent Plus Solos: Jenna Johnson, Madi Thue, Sammy Femling, Daniel Roldan, Nicholas Batchelor, Bennett Schwenn, Cory Fischer, Ava Wienk, Brooke Schwagel, Matti Scott, Lydia Street, Emily VanHoorn, Addie Farrell, Korbin Leddy and Khayri Bergman.

Excellent Solos: Trystan Fischer, Benett Street, Cailey Sime, Madison Tesch, Mariah Madsen, Cadence Pillatzki, Avery Whitesitt and Tatum Berry.

Good Plus Solo: Trevor Nolting.
Good Minus Solo: Charlezton Ward.

Superior Plus Duets: Logan Meyer/Drake Rogers, Aubrey Fraasch/Jayden Johnson, Hope Karels/Rachel Schulte, Nadia Thue/Isaac Graham, Taryn Dusky/Savannah Stengel, Shaylee Pekelder/Emily VanHoorn, Savanna Osowski/Hattie Muellenbach, and Ava Wienk/Abby Paczkowski.

Superior Duets: Dani Yamaura/Mariah Brandenburger, Mariah Brandenburger/Natalie Meyer, Jacob Reimche/Logan Fenhaus, Nicholas Batchelor/Isaac Sousa, Laura Eilers/Piper Grear, Erica Johnson/Alexis Ninneman, Matti Scott/Brooke Schwagel, Lydia Street/Camila Monroy, Emma DeBoer/Siri Bien, and Addie Farrell/Laney Forrette.

Superior Minus Duet: Madi Thue/Jessica VanPeursem.

Excellent Duets: Hillary Morton/Mallory Falk, Jared Johnson/Jake Trevett, Halli Essington/Monserrat Meraz-Chavez, Amber Unzen/Maci Priebe, Marly Leddy/Maci Priebe, Tatum Berry/Marion Mischel and Laura Johnson/Ximena Lozano.
Superior Plus Trios: Mason Cordingley/Eli Johnson/Carter Phinney, Hattie Muellenbach/Savanna Osowski/Savannah Stengel, William Karels/Jack Sandvig/Isaac Sousa, and Elsie Seffrood/Camryn Wiese/Maurina Street.

Superior Trios: Karson Weber/Benett Street/Bennett Schwenn, Autumn Fox/Kaylee Reil/Madison Mathews and Laura Johnson/Ximena Lozano/Laney Forrette.

Superior Minus Trios: Lars Anderson/Mason Riley/Eric Van Sambeek, Jocalyn McFarland/Ashly Eilers/Cory Fischer.

Excellent Plus Trio: Hillary Morton/Mallory Falk/Laura Eilers, Eric Van Sambeek/Logan Meyer/Trystan Fischer, Kellen Hoeke/Stevie Ash/Nicholas Batchelor, Maiah Brown/Tatum Berry/Hailey Hupke, Peyton Gengler/Madison Mathews/Dani Yamaura, Avery Whitesitt/Ashlyn O’Farrell/Madison Frerichs, Luis Berrones/Carter Phinney/Dylan Sonon-Bohn, Aiden Ludvigson/Paul Van Dover/Nathan Pillatzki.

Excellent Trios: Thomas Steltz/Max Liebe/Isaac Johnson, Kaylee Reil/Madison Mathews/Autumn Fox, Mason Cordingley/Ian Liebe/Nicholas Anderson, Avery Whitesitt/Cassidy Schwagel/Ashlyn O’Farrell.

Superior Plus Quartet: Hope Karels/Matti Scott/Kaitlyn Huber/Brooke Schwagel.

Superior Quartet: William Karels/Bennett Schwenn/Benett Street/Karson Weber and Luis Berrones/Gauge Stengel/Sammy Femling/Max Lightfield/

Excellent Plus Quartet: Jessica VanPeursem/Madi Thue/Allison Leddy/Emma DeBoer.

Excellent Quartet: Camryn Phinney/Halli Essington/Monserrat Meraz-Chavez/Mackenzie Michels.