All band students who chose to participate in the regional solo/ensemble event at Bay City Central High School will compete Saturday, Feb. 8.
Ensemble members are expected to perform both early and later in the day, while soloists are scheduled to perform around lunchtime. Expert musicians will judge them, and their rating will be given shortly after on a one-to-five-point scale, with one being the best and five being the worst. Participants who earn a one will then receive a medal and be given the opportunity to move on to the state competition.
Some ensembles consist of duets or trios. Students participating in duets are Skylar DuBois-Kleinhans and Kaya Munoz, Selah Sprague and Victoria Trevino, and lastly Rebekah Ross and Kailee Reese. Soloists performing are Rebekah Ross, Selah Sprague, Mack Mckinin, and Kaya Munoz. The ensemble group has a total of six performers: Elliot Carter, Hayden Mader, Harley Mader, Anson Sanborn, Bryce Buchanan, and Jacob Erskin.
Skylar DuBois-Kleinhans, who is competing as part of an ensemble duet on Saturday, shared, “I found Solo/Ensemble really interesting because it gives a chance to showcase skill and everything on what you can do with music. I’m not really nervous when it comes to performing in front of judges, but there is some part of the music that I just find really worrying about, but enough practice would make it better. Working with my partner helps because it creates more of a bond with them but also trusting them that it would become much easier if you work with them. Me and Kaya are duets and everything has been going at a good pace so I’m proud of it.”
Fellow band member Rebekah Ross, who is participating as both an ensemble member and a soloist, shared, “I originally wanted to do solo and ensemble last year because Lawhorne encouraged me to, and I had a friend ask me to do a duet with her since my other friend wasn’t able to do it. So I decided to do the duet, and then Lawhorne just pushed me into a solo, which I enjoyed doing, so I decided to do it again this year.” Ross further stated, “I wouldn’t say at the moment that I am nervous to perform, but I know that once I enter the performance room, I will 100% be nervous; that’s how I function when it comes to performances. Leading up to the event, I have been excited to see what will happen. Working with a partner has made preparing more simple. I enjoy working with others, and I feel that it allows both of us to get better through each other.”
