Waukon High School Band receives results from spring contests

Band accomplishes feat not achieved in three decades with third consecutive Division I rating at Large Group Festival

The Waukon High School band recently received its Contest results for this past spring. The band participated in a virtual solo and ensemble contest in April and an in-person full band festival in May.

The Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) State Small Group Festival was held virtually in April of this year. Participating schools were required to make video recordings of each event and submit the videos to the State prior to April 14. The Waukon High School Band submitted 10 small group ensembles and nine soloists this past year.

Results from the event are as follows:

Division I Solos: James VanderVelden - trumpet; Abby Wiemerslage - multiple percussion and marimba; Vivian Khan - flute; Cody Huinker - trombone; Hayley Christensen - oboe.

Division I Ensembles: Flute Quartet (Vivian Khan, Bailey Sherman, Ashley Liddiard, Tamara Guchshenkov); Clarinet Quartet (Bridget Duncklee, Alexis Hogan, Lucia Aldrich, Martina Bresnahan); Clarinet Duet (Bridget Duncklee and Alexis Hogan), Trumpet Duet (James VanderVelden and Cael Rethwisch); Low Brass Duet (Hannah McCabe and Lauren McCabe).

Division II Solos: Bailey Sherman - Flute.

Division II Ensembles: Woodwind Choir (Vivian Khan, Ashley Liddiard, Baily Sherman, Tamara Guchshenkov, Bridget Duncklee, Alexis Hogan, Lucia Aldrich, Martina Bresnahan, Denzel Decker, Riley Palmer, Jackson Perkins, Jada Bushaw, Gabe Goettel); Saxophone Duet (Denzel Decker and Riley Palmer); Saxophone Quartet (Denzel Decker, Riley Palmer, Jada Bushaw and Gabe Goettel); Trombone Trio (Cody Huinker, Jacob Smith, Logan Lubahn); Percussion Quintet (MaKenzi Marting, Abby Wiemerslage, Alaina Gebel, Ella Dehli, Ryan Kolsrud).

Division III Solos: Martina Bresnahan - Bass Clarinet; Logan Lubahn - Tuba.

The Waukon High School Band also participated in the IHSMA State Large Group Band Festival May 8 in Osage. The band performed for a panel of three certified judges who rate each band on eight categories using a five-point scale - for a total of 40 points. An ensemble can only be deducted a maximum of four points in order to receive a Division I rating.

The Waukon High School Band received a Division I rating from the panel that day, receiving scores of 38, 38 and 36 from the judges. This is the band’s third consecutive Division I rating - an accomplishment that has not been achieved in over 30 years at Waukon High School. The band has received Division I ratings 10 out of the past 13 years.

When director Jo Ann Sherman was asked about these events, she responded, “By participating in these events, the students are being asked to work hard and to improve their skills. I personally love small group contests. Each student has to work as an individual to learn their part independent of anyone else. Small groups like quartets and duets do not double parts, so each individual has to know how their part fits within the entire ensemble.”

“The large group contest is a bit more stressful because there is only one band and we only have one performance - so it essentially has to be perfect at that moment in time,” Sherman said. “But, by participating in large group contests, the students learn not to settle for just playing right notes and rhythms but really strive to create beautiful music.  So, yes, large group contest  can be stressful, but it’s very much worth the effort required to participate.”

The Waukon High School Band will finish out the 2020-2021 school year by performing at graduation commencement exercises this Sunday, May 23 and in the annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony in Waukon scheduled for Monday, May 31.