Successful Day at Contest

CAM Vocal Music students had a great day in Manning last Saturday at State Solo and Ensemble Contest. After three months of dedicated work, the students were rewarded for their efforts by receiving eleven Division One ratings, seven Division Two ratings, and one Division Three rating. Pictured above is the Chamber Choir, which received a Division One rating. (not present for picture- Haley McMartin).
Some information about the guidelines given to the judges might be helpful for you to understand these ratings. Judges are instructed to give 25-40% Division One ratings, which are outstanding in every detail. They are expected to give 40-55% Division Two ratings, which are defined as excellent performances with minor defects. Division Three (10-25%) ratings are good performances which lack finesse, interpretation, or other essential qualities necessary for a higher rating. It is also interesting to consider the fact that all of my students are required to participate in contest. They can choose how many events to enter, but everyone participates. I don't just choose my best students to go to contest, as most schools do. We have very talented students and we work very hard!
That being said, I want to make sure that you understand that I would have been happy with our day on Saturday even if the judges had not been as appreciative. The students have worked very hard, grown musically, learned about singing as an ensemble and about striving for excellence in their musical performances. My goals for contest for them are that they are as prepared as they can be, that they grow, and that they do their best. I was proud of them in all of these areas.
Since I began teaching in 1993, I have received only two "Best of Center" awards.....until this year! Each judge is allowed to choose the best performance they heard all day in their center. We were honored to receive two of these awards: Thatcher Hilyard for his solo; and the Men's Ensemble. These men will be invited to go to ISU in Ames on May 8 for the Outstanding Performance Recital. It will be a fun day of traveling, performing, and eating at Hickory Park! The recital is an informal, come and go affair where all of the "Best of Center" award winners will be performing. We can listen to several events, but no one is expected to listen to everyone, as the program will last all day. More information will be coming about the schedule, and parents are invited to attend if they want to.
I also want to mention another honor that has been less publicized. Receiving a perfect score at contest happens rarely. It is also rare that someone receives a perfect score and is NOT selected as the "Best of Center." Haley McMartin was awarded a perfect score for her performance of "American Lullaby" and "Habanera" from Carmen. Good work, Haley!!
Thank you so much to the parents and friends who followed us around at contest! It was great to have a fan club and to see familiar faces when we performed. It was also good to have extra people to point the way when I got disoriented, hold music when I was overloaded, and pick up ballots for me when I needed to be on the road to see my son perform in West Omaha!!
(I made it, by the way. Thanks, Dianna!!) Thanks also to Annette Kruse, who does such a wonderful job of accompanying the Chamber choir for us. We are going to miss her next year!
We switched gears quickly yesterday and started learning choreography for our Awards Concert on May 17. Thanks to all the kids who worked hard dancing last night until 9:00! And many thanks to Paige Dinkla for designing the choreography and teaching it to us!
The Awards concert will feature selections from the following musicals: "Wicked", "Phantom of the Opera", and "High School Musical". See you there!