Eight of the 11 students who participated in Solo and Ensemble Feb. 8th, 2025, to represent the St. Louis High School at the state competition. The state competition is expected to take place March 15, 2025, in Midland. All students who placed in their regional competitions are expected to attend.
Solo and Ensemble took place at Bay City Central High School. The group had to show up at different times to perform for solo/ensemble events. The eight students who made it to the states were Bryce Buchanan, Elliot Carter, Jacob Erskin, Hayden Mader, Harley Mader, Kaya Munoz, Rebekah Ross, and Anson Sanborn.
Senior Kaya Munoz shared some insight on her experience stating, “I usually practiced in sessions that were about an hour long, as I would mainly be practicing with my piano accompanist when she was at the school to work with soloists. During these sessions, we would run through the whole song and then go back to parts that we felt we needed to work on more until we felt like we had a better grasp on them.” Munoz added, “While I am more excited than nervous when it comes to music and band activities, solo and ensemble gave me more anxiety than usual, partly because of it being my first one but also because of the fact that I wasn’t entirely sure if I would make it to states. I felt so much excitement and relief once I learned I could go to states. I was celebrating so loudly that a stranger near me congratulated me as I left.”
Fellow state qualifier, Rebekah Ross, shared, “I wasn’t as nervous for my event at districts as I was in the past. I had a good feeling I would qualify for states, but I knew that there was still a chance I might not, so I just went with the flow. When I first started playing, I wasn’t too nervous, but as I was playing, I kept telling myself in my head that I was close to the end, and that soon I’d be able to relax. When I got the rating back showing I qualified for states, I was super relieved. I know my face didn’t show it, but I went home and cried. I was so happy I made it, but at the same time, I was scared because it meant that the competition would get more intense, and I would have to work harder, but overall, I was so glad I made it, and I was able to prove to myself that I am capable of playing. I just have to believe in myself.”
