Soloists perform at contest

A group of eight band students competed in the UIL Solo and Ensemble contest held at Wylie High School on Saturday.

Three of the soloists brought back Division I medals, with the other five all earning a Division II on a rating scale of 1 through 5.

Senior Ashley Sanchez played a Class 1 solo, the most difficult category. She broughtho meagold medal from the competition with a Division I rating.

Junior Melanie Figueroa earned a Division I rating on a Class 2 clarinet solo, while junior Chyanne Jaco also played a Class 2 clarinet solo that earned a Division I.

Sopho more Landon Picquet and junior Trinity McBee both played Class 1 solos, earning Division II ratings.

Sophomore Cheyenne Hebel earned a Division II on a Class 2 solo, while junior Keira Caudel and freshman Rowdy New earned Division II ratings on Class 3 solos.

Music selections used for the contest are divided into three classes based on difficulty, with a Class 1 selection being the most difficult. Students must earn a Division I rating on a Class 1 solo and memorize the music in order to advance to the state contest later in the spring.

Once a student earns a gold medal on a lower class selection, he or she must move up to the next level.

Band director William Vaughan said that all band students are required to compete in a solo or ensemble each year.

“We will have our local contest in May for all the rest of the students,” Vaughan said. “Preparing a solo or ensemble is part of our program’s initiative to improve individual development, and it builds confidence.”

While musicians previously were accompanied by a pianist, there are recorded digital accompaniments used now.

Band Trip

The band is also preparing forthebi-annualspring trip, heading to Branson, Missouri this year on March 7-10.

Atotal of 37 members of the band are making the trip, performing at the Titanic MuseuminBranson, attending a musical show featuring the Haygoods, and spending a day at Silver Dollar City.

The band booster club raised funding for the trip, supplementing the expense of the trip for students that volunteered a minimum of 10 hours of community service.

The group will return to Albany on Sunday evening, March 10.