Harlow Ebers and Emma Bogard are top 8th Grade Instrumentalists and Bailey Cross earns 2025 Director’s Award
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Annual Chester Grade School Spring Concert was Thursday May 1, 2025. The event was held at the Chester High School Colbert Memorial Gymnasium. This event venue provided adequate room and comfort for concert goers as well as plenty of safe and accessible parking.
Chester Grade School Band Director, Sue Colonel, had her musicians well trained and rehearsed for the event which featured all three CGS Instrumental groups including the 5th Grade Beginner Band, the 6th Grade Band, and the 7th & 8th Grade Junior High Band. There were no vocal performances since choir was eliminated from the CGS curriculum two years ago.
CGS Principal Tim Blair and Assistant Principal Dr. Kristin Petrowske were on hand to supervise the event and enjoy the wonderful music. Mr. Blair welcomed a large crowd to the concert and praised Mrs. Colonel for her efforts in preparing the students for a great performance.
The 5th Grade Beginner Band was first to perform. They wowed the crowd with three very well-played songs. The first selection was “Synergy March”, by W. Owens. That was followed with, “Creatures of the Attic”, by B. Balmages. The 5th Grade portion of the concert was concluded with, “Homework Blues”, by P. Lavender.
The 5th Graders demonstrated a lot of improvement since starting band just nine months ago. They were much more confident and relaxed than they were six months ago at the 2024 Christmas Concert. The final blues song was played well and it was quite apparent that the newcomers were beginning to feel at ease performing in front of a large crowd.
The 6th Grade Band was next to perform and they did a fantastic job of presenting three songs. The first selection was, “All for One, One for All”, by C. Brittin Chambers. This march was a great way to kick off the second portion of the concert.
The second 6th Grade song was, “Prehistoric Suite”, by P. Jennings. This was a very cute four-part song which Mrs. Colonel explained told a story. The music had a feel that matched the story line. The four parts included, 1) Stegosaurus, The Gladiator; 2) Brontosaurus, The Gentle Giant; 3) Pterodactyles, The Graceful Giants of the Sky; and 4) The Battle of Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops. The musicians did a wonderful performance of this lengthy number.
To round out the 6th Grade Band portion of the concert the 6th Graders played, “Mechanical Monsters” by R. Standridge. This selection was chosen by the students to close the show and they did a great job of closing with talent and class!
Following the 6th Grade performance, Mrs. Colonel recognized the 8th Graders in their final Spring Concert of their grade school careers. This year there are (29) 8th Graders including:
Flutes (8): Bailey Cross, Maycie Dickerson, Josie Gartner, Brenna Hammel, Nancy Jardines, Vanessa Jardines, Arabella Mallender, and Katelynn Vallett.
Clarinets (9): Virgil Bainter, Sophia Bert, Emma Bogard, Lucas Buskirk, Harlow Ebers, Lucas Farmer, Pedro Hernandez, Maritza Ixcoy, and Ashlyn Young.
Bass Clarinets (2): Hadlie Cushman and Yamilett Fuentes.
Alto Saxophones (2): Jackson Liter and Natalie Venus.
Tenor Saxophone (1): Danny Santay.
Trumpets (2): Derrick Coffey and Jaclyn Tucker.
Trombones (2): Edgardo Lazu-Colon and Preston Liefer.
Drums/Percussion (3): Logan Hoskin, Lucy Ixcoy, and Myra Yankey.
The CGS Jr. High Band took center stage next and were featured playing three songs. As with the other bands, the Jr. High Band started with a march titled, “American Heroes March”, by M. Williams. This piece was performed with confidence and perfection.
The next number was titled, “The Falling Rain”, by J. Swearingen. The seasoned musicians performed this tune with excellence. It was a crowd favorite and received a loud round of applause. To close their portion of the concert, the Jr. High Band performed, “Timber Lake Festival”, by S. Hodges. The difficulty of this song demonstrated the musician’s higher skill level and ability and was well received by the audience.
Before moving to the final portion of the program, Mrs. Colonel announced and presented the 2025 Outstanding Instrumentalists and the 2025 Director’s Award winner.
The Outstanding Instrumentalists are the two best or Most Valuable Instrumental musicians in the 8th Grade Band. This award goes to the most talented musicians and most prolific contributors to the band. This award equates with the MVP of sports teams. The two Most Outstanding Instrumentalists for 2025 are Harlow Ebers and Emma Bogard. Both are Clarinet players.
The Director’s Award is presented to a student that goes “above and beyond” to contribute to the success and well-being of the band. The 2025 Director’s Award winner was 8th Grade Flute player Bailey Cross.
Mrs. Colonel said that Bailey volunteered the most times to perform the National Anthem at ball games and that she volunteered in lots of other ways to assist her with band duties. All three award winners were presented with plaques and introduced to the audience.
To close out the 2025 Spring Concert, Mrs. Colonel brought back the 6th Grade Band to join the 7th and 8th Grade Band members in performing two selections. The combined group of veteran band members performed, “Dark Adventure”, by R. Ford, and the famous and popular rock and roll favorite, “Louis, Louie.” The final two songs brought the house down and gave the musicians a fun and exciting way to close out the concert!
The audience gave the entire concert a great and loud favorable response and let the musicians now that their performances were greatly appreciated and enjoyed. Mrs. Colonel thanked everyone for attending and reminded parents that the school year was not yet over!
Colonel said, “Remind your students to still take their horns home and practice because we are not done yet! The 6th and 7th Grade Band members will play for 8th Grade Graduation Thursday May 22. More information will be published on your Band Google Classroom. Thank you for your support throughout the year!”
Sue Colonel, Chester Grade School Band Director (far right) poses for a photo with her 2025 music award winners. The honors were presented at the 2025 CGS Spring Concert Thursday May 1. Pictured are Emma Bodard and Harlow Ebers, “Outstanding Instrumentalists” and Baily Cross, “Director’s Award” winner. All three award winners are 8th Graders. Jim Beers Photo
Sue Colonel, Chester Grade School Band Director and General Music Teacher, introduces the first group to perform at the 2025 CGS Spring Concert Thursday May 1. Colonel praised all three of her bands and noted that they have improved greatly throughout the school year! Jim Beers Photo
Tim Blair, Chester Grade School Principal, welcomes everyone to the Chester Grade School Spring Concert and introduces CGS Band Direcvtor, Sue Colonel. Blair noted that Mrs. Colonel is one of the best band directors in Southern Illinois. He then gave Mrs. Colonel center stage to direct her 5th, 6th, and Jr. High Bands in their Annual Spring Concert. Jim Beers Photo
The CGS Jr. High Band performs at the 2025 CGS Spring Concert. The group performed three songs including, “American Heroes March”, by M. Williams, “The Falling Rain”, by J. Swearingen, and “Timber Lake Festival”, by S. Hodges. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester Grade School 5th Grade Beginner Band performs at the 2025 CGS Spring Concert Thursday May 5. The young musicians performed three tunes in the hour-long concert including, “Synergy March”, by W. Owens, “Creatures in the Attic” by B. Balmages, and “Homework Blues”, by P. Lavender. The group did a great job of performing and demonstrated much improvement since beginning band last fall! Jim Beers Photo
Sue Colonel, Chester Grade School Band Director, introduces the 6th Grade Band during their performance at the 2025 CGS Spring Concert Thursday May 1. The band performed three songs including, “All for One, One for All”, by C. Brittin Chambers, “A Prehistoric Suite”, by P. Jennings, and “Mechanical Monsters” by R. Standridge. Jim Beers Photo
A combined band consisting of 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Band members closed the 2025 Chester Grade School Spring Concert Thursday May 1. The group performed two selections including “Dark Adventure” by R. Ford” and “Louie, Louie”, arr. J. Vinson. The massive band wowed the crowd and was a great way to close a fantastic concert. Jim Beers Photo
Chester Grade School 8th Grader, Myra Yankey, plays Congas during one of the songs performed by the CGS Jr. High Band Thursday May 1 at the Spring Concert. The song was a big hit and Yankey did great job of performing. Jim Beers Photo