Chester brings home 11 “Superior”, 1 “Excellent” and 2 “Good” ratings
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – After a challenging football season, an extremely long and busy basketball season, a fantastic 2025 Christmas Concert, and various numerous other community performances, Chester High School musicians managed to prepare for the 2026 IHSA Solo & Ensemble Contest March 7th.
This annual event was positioned in the right in the middle of beginning to prepare for the 2026 Organizational Contest which will take place Friday April 17th and the annual CHS Spring Concert and Music Awards Night which will take place Thursday May 12th at CHS Colbert Memorial Gymnasium.
The Solo & Ensemble Contest took place Saturday March 7 at Herrin High School. Chester had 13 musicians enter in 14 different performances for the day. Of those 14 events, nine were vocal and five were instrumental.
All performances were observed by a judge who evaluated the performance on seven different criteria including Tone Quality, Intonation, Rhythm, Technique, Interpretation, Diction, and Performances.
Contestants could earn a total of five points per performance criteria for a total of 35 points altogether. Overall ratings were computed by totaling all seven individual rating scores. The following final score categories included:
Division I (Superior): 35-31 points = 5 (A Superior Performance). Outstanding in nearly every detail.
Division II (Excellent): 30.9 to 25 points = 4 (An Excellent Performance). Minor defects.
Division III (Good): 24.9 to 18 points = 3 (Good Performance). Lacking finesse and/or interpretation.
Division IV (Fair): 17.9 to 11 points = 2 (A Fair Performance). Basic weaknesses.
Division V (Poor): 10.9 to 7 points = 1 (A Poor Performance). Unsatisfactory.
Among the nine Vocal Performances, Chester High School earned 8 Superior Ratings and 1 Excellent Rating. Individual student ratings include the following:
Superior Ratings (35-31 points)
Natalie Venus: 33.5 points
Addy Gottschammer: 33.2 points
Raven Renderer: 34 points
Bently Valleroy: 33 points
Erin Liefer: 33 points
Abby Carter: 33 points
Alyssa Stehl: 32 points
Natalie Guethle: 32 points
Excellent Rating (30.9 – 25 points)
Megan Zimmer: 30 points
Of the five instrumental performances, Chester High School musicians earned three Superior Ratings and two Good Ratings.
Superior Ratings (35-31 points)
Erin Liefer, Alto Saxophone Solo, 34.2 points
Karin Landeros, Tuba Solo, 33.2 points
Lexi Davis, Trombone Solo, 32.8 points
Good Ratings (24.9 – 18 points)
Kylie Eggemeyer, Flute Solo, 21 points
Emily Gruenewald, Flute Solo, 18 points