All hail to Marian musicians

Teresa Prince

 

“We say Take! You say State! TAKE!”

 

“STATE!”

 

Yes, it’s October again, and that means only one thing: state championships. 

 

Students have been working hard since May, and now it all pays off.  It’s time to cheer them on at state golf, softball, cross-country, volleyball, and music.  What’s this?  All-State Music?  I don’t remember any pep rallies for that.

 

All-State Music is a prestigious competition held in Lincoln Nov 20-22.  “The All State [competition] is sponsored by Nebraska Music Educator. 

 

“There is a select band, jazz band, orchestra, and choir, and they practice for three days [before the final performance],” said Mr. Bruce Bartels, band teacher. 

 

Being selected for All-State is a major accomplishment. 

 

“They’re chosen from seven locations throughout the state.  The instrumental musicians audition on tape.  Everybody plays the same thing […] the tapes from the seven sites are collected and sent to one individual who will evaluate one instrument section and will choose the nominees and they then will go to Lincoln.  There are 150 students in the band, 300 in choir, and 150 in orchestra,” said Bartels. 

 

Marian has two girls who auditioned for All-State on Sat. Oct 11: senior Megan Verch auditioned on her clarinet and junior Amanda Meier auditioned for choir.  Megan went to All-State her sophomore year and enjoyed this experience. 

 

“It was fun; it’s a lot of work.  You go down to Lincoln and you play at Pershing Auditorium on Saturday, but until then you practice and you practice,” said Verch. 

 

The hard work begins long before the actual All-State competition.  Verch received two etudes, sections of music, that are meant to be challenge the musician, Verch has practiced the etudes since May.  She also practices during band class and while at home, usually one or two hours every day.  Along with her etude, she is given a random excerpt of music one month before audition time and expected to play that as well. 

 

All her practicing paid off because she preformed well at the audition.

 

“It (the excerpt) was really easy; the second etude wasn’t the greatest, but otherwise I had a good audition,” said Verch.  She’s not confident she’ll be accepted.         

 

“It all depends on the judges.  You could play really well, but there could be forty people who played as well as you and they only take 25-30 people…I would say I have a good shot of making it but it’s up to the judges,” said Verch 

 

Amanda Meier is similarily worked hard prior to her audition.  She received the music from Ms. Cathy Pruitte, choir director, at the beginning of summer and has practiced ever since. 

 

“There are six songs.  I just started looking at my part and I’ve been working on the singing and now I’m working with the accompaniment CD and trying to get things perfect,” said Meier. 

 

She is nervous because this is her first time trying-out.  Meier is also anxious about her chances of acceptance.

 

“I’m going to go in there [to the audition] and be confident because I’ve been working on it for quite a while.  It’s really an honor to make it because there are so many people that try out.  I have my hopes up,” said Meier.

 

Verch and Meier learned the results of their auditions Oct.  20.  Both girls are alternates.  They didn’t make the select band or choir, but they still have a chance of going to Lincoln.