Earn three Superior, 64 1st Places; and seven 2nd Place ratings
BY JIM BEERS, Contributing Writer
CHESTER – Saturday February 25 the Chester Grade School Music Department competed in the 2023 IGSMA (Illinois Grade School Music Association) District 3 Solo and Ensemble Contest held in Carterville, Illinois.
CGS Band Director, Sue Colonel and Choral Director, Steve Colonel took 74 solo and ensemble entries to the contest and brought home three Superior ratings, 64 1st Place ratings, seven 3rd Place ratings.
Of those ratings, there was one Superior Solo, and two Superior Ensembles. There were 52 1st Place Solos and 12 1st Place Ensembles. There were six 2nd Place Solos and one 2nd Place Ensemble.
Jane Kruse, former Chester School District No. 139 Vocal Music Director and Vicky Beers, current Co-President of the Chester Music Patrons, served as accompanists for the Chester Grade School students.
SUPERIOR RATINGS
There were three “Superior” performances by the CGS students. Superior is the highest rating that a judge can assign. Of the three “Superior” ratings, one was a solo performance and two were ensemble performances.
Solo Superior Rating
The only CGS Superior solo performance was by Preston Liefer who performed a trombone solo titled, “Hippity Hop”. He was accompanied by Vicky Beers.
Preston Liefer, a Chester Grade School 6th Grade Trombone player, earned a “Superior” rating at the 2023 IGSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest. He was the only “Superior” solo rating earned by CGS students. His solo was titled, “Hippity Hop”. His accompanist was Vicky Beers. Jim Beers Photo
Ensemble Superior Ratings
The first “Superior” ensemble rating came from a Clarinet Choir consisting of Abby Carter, Kiara Mathis, Natalie Guethle, Raven Rinderer, and Chelse Mathis. They performed, “Menuetto.” This song was unaccompanied.
The final “Superior” ensemble rating was a Saxophone Trio Ensemble featuring Alden Davitz, Logan Brace, and Avery Wittenborn. They performed, “Minuet in G”. This ensemble was unaccompanied.
1st PLACE RATINGS
There were a total of 64 1st Place ratings, 52 of which were solo performances and 12 were ensemble performances. Of those, 12 were Vocal Solos and 40 were Instrumental Solos.
Solo 1st Place Ratings
Solo 1st Place ratings included Anna Menefee, Macy VanZandt, Eagan McClelland, Bailey Cross, and Maycie Dickerson who placed Flute solos; Jackson Liter (Alto Sax), Brock Fuller (Snare Drum), Jolynn Frazer, Danny Santay, and Avery Wittenborn (Tenor Saxophone); Abby Carter (Clarinet), Alden Davitz (Alto Saxophone), Hadlie Cushman (Bass Clarinet), Logan Brace (Alto Saxophone) and Yami Fuentes (Bass Clarinet).
More solo 1st Place ratings included Natalie Guethle (Clarinet), Harlow Ebers (Clarinet), Natalie Venue (Alto Saxophone), Lucas Buskirk (Clarinet), Logan Hoskin (Snare Drum), Pedro Hernandez (Clarinet), Clementine Benson (Flute), Peyton Moll (Clarinet), Natalie Eggemeyer, Josie Gaertner, Isabela Rafael, Brenna Hammel, Kaylee Luckhaupt, and Nancy Jardines (Flute).
1st Place ratings continue as follow: Bently Valleroy (Vocal), John Adams, Emma Bogard, and Maritza Ixcoy Pu (Clarinet); Bently Valleroy (Snare Drum), Alyssa Stehl (Vocal), Morgan Nanney (Clarinet), Victor Fuentes (Trumpet), Logan Springston (Snare Drum), Natalie Guethle (Vocal), Hannah Hoskin (Vocal), and Alyssa Stehl (Trumpet).
Kendall Nanney, a Chester Grade School 8th Grader, earned a 1st Place rating on her piano solo at the 2023 IGSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest. Her piano solo was titled, “At the Trading Post”. Miss Nanney also earned a 1st Place rating for her vocal solo, “Via Dolorosa”. Her accompanist was Vicky Beers. Jim Beers Photo
Karim Landeros, a Chester Grade School 8th Grader, earned a 1st Place rating at the 2023 IGSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest. His Tuba solo was titled, “Gavotte In Rondeau”. His accompanist was Vicky Beers. Jim Beers Photo
Additional 1st Place Solo ratings include Brookelynn McClain (Vocal), Raven Rinderer (Vocal), Karim Landeros (Tuba), Aiden Davis (Trombone), Kendall Nanney (Vocal), Zander Thomas (Trumpet), Abby Carter (Vocal), Kendall Nanney (Piano), Avery Wittenborn (Vocal), Edgardo Lazu-Colon (Trombone), and Keegan Stauffer (Trombone).
Ensemble 1st Place ratings
The clarinet trio of Lucas Buskirk, Lucas Farmer, and Pedro Hernandez earned a 1st Place rating on their Mixed Winds Ensemble titled, “Cape Kennedy. All are Chester Grade School musicians and were competing at the 2023 IGSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest. Their accompanist was Vicky Beers. Conducting the judging was Becky Lewis who praised the boys for their efforts. Jim Beers Photo
There were 12 “1st Place” Ensemble ratings, all of which were instrumental. Anna Menefee and Macy Van Zandt performed a Flute Ensemble titled, “Two Imps”. Danny Santay, Edgardo Lazu-Pu and Logan Hoskin performed a Mixed Woodwind Ensemble titled, “Calypso Morning”.
Maycie Dickerson and Emma Bogard performed a Mixed Woodwind Ensemble titled, “Peasant Cantata”. Bailey Cross and Brenna Hammel performed a Flute Ensemble titled, “Calypso Morning”. A Brass Choir consisting of Alyssa Stehl, Kendall Nanney, Victor Fuentes, Preston Liefer, Aiden Davis and Karim Landeros performed, “March Romaine”.
Kaylee Luckhaupt and Morgan Nanney performed a Mixed Woodwind Ensemble titled, “Calypso Morning”. Josie Gaertner Yami Fuentes, and Hadlie Cushman performed a Mixed Woodwind Ensemble titled, Peasant Cantata”. Peyton Moll and Harlow Ebers performed a Clarinet Ensemble titled, “Marianina”.
Pedro Hernandez, Lucas Buskirk, and Lucas Farmer performed a Clarinet Ensemble titled, “Cape Kennedy Sketches”. Trent Westbrook, Logan Springston, and Bently Valleroy performed a Membrane Percussion Ensemble titled, “There’s a Crowd”. Preston Liefer, Larne Luchavez, and Jackson Liter performed a Mixed Wind Ensemble titled, “Peasant Cantata”. Zander Thomas, Virgil Bainter, and Keegan Stauffer performed a Mixed Wind Ensemble.
2nd PLACE RATINGS
There were a total of seven 2nd Place ratings. Six of those were Solo performances while one was an Ensemble performance.
Solo 2nd Place ratings
There were six 2nd Place ratings, three of which were Instrumental and three of which were Vocal.
Instrumental 2nd Place Solos included Raven Rinderer who performed a Clarinet solo titled “Contradance”. Justice Mattingly performed an Alto Saxophone Solo titled, “Razz Ma Tazz”. Michael Montroy performed a Trumpet Solo titled, “Razz Ma Tazz”.
Vocal 2nd Place solos included Brock Fuller who performed a Vocal Solo titled, “Bring Him Home from Les Miserables”. Bella Holland performed a Vocal Solo titled, “Simple Gifts”. Justice Mattingly performed a Vocal Solo titled, “Via Dolorosa”.
Ensemble 2nd Place ratings
There was only one 2nd Place rating in the Ensemble category. Natalie Eggemeyer, Natalie Venus, and Jolynn Frazer performed a Mixed Woodwind Ensemble titled, “Calypso Morning”.
Contestants that earn an Excellent (1st Place) rating or a Superior rating in their Class A, Class B, or Class C solo or ensemble performances have the privilege of advancing to the 2023 IGSMA “State” Contest. This event takes place Saturday April 29 at Casey Middle School in Mt. Vernon. This contest is optional.
Sue Colonel said, “We have 20 students that have decided to advance to the State Competition. That is all but two students who qualified to advance. Out of those 20 students, CGS will actually enter contestants in 33 different events. Students can enter in more than one solo or ensemble.”
“This year is the first year that most of our students have had the opportunity to compete in a “live” competition. 2019 was the last year that we were able to compete “live” due to Covid-19 precautions and restrictions.”
“I am very proud of all of our students that competed “live” for the first time. Considering that competing “live” in front of a judge and fellow students in the audience is so stressful and challenging for kids, it was extremely positive that out musicians did so well earning three Superior ratings, 64 1st Place ratings and seven 2nd Place ratings!”
In addition to teaching Chester Grade School students full time, Mrs. Colonel also serves as the Secretary/Treasurer for the Illinois Grade School State Music Association Southern Division which covers all schools south of Springfield, Illinois.