High school musicians from ten schools representing District #7 gathered at Havre High School to perform at the District Music Festival on April 22-23. After earning Superior ratings, two solo choir performers from Chinook: Syrus Pomeroy and Emma Paulsen will advance to the State Music Festival in Helena on May 6 and 7. Both Chinook and Harlem also had large ensembles performing.

According to Chinook School District's Band and Choir Director, Devin Morris, the Chinook music program had a successful festival this year. "The band and choir both performed very well and received Excellent ratings. We also had two choir students perform solos on Saturday, Syrus Pomeroy and Emma Paulsen. Each received a Superior rating and qualified for State!"

From Harlem High School, Music Director Dan Owens shared a similar report on his group ensembles. Harlem Concert Band received a rating of 2 (Excellent), as did the Harlem Concert Choir. "I am very proud of all our students' hard work and the enthusiasm that they put into their performances," Owens stated.

"We did not have any students perform in the solo/ensemble portion of the festival."

For those unfamiliar with the rating system used at District and State Festival events, adjudicators judge the musical performances and rate them on a scale from 1-5. A 1 is awarded for a superior performance, one that is outstanding in nearly every detail. A score of 2 indicates an excellent performance, one with only minor defects. Any performer earning a 3 reveals a good performance that may lack finesse and/or interpretation. A 4 designates a fair performance with basic weaknesses, while a 5 defines a poor or unsatisfactory performance. In the words of Morris, "We had some amazing guest adjudicators!"

To earn their Superior ratings (score of 1), Adjudicator Tom Baty thought that Pomeroy and Paulsen exhibited outstanding literature selection, preparation, and execution or interpretation for age and training. "Musically their pieces were very challenging yet nearly absent of technical errors with very minor flaws."

Pomeroy, a tenor, sang "The Little Irish Girl" by Hermann Lori. Because one of the roles an adjudicator performs is to provide constructive feedback, Baty told Pomeroy to "focus less on your nasal cavity."

Paulsen, on the other hand, is an alto. She performed "Amazing Grace" arranged by Jay Althouse. For her feedback, Paulsen was reminded to "be mindful of volume."

For the large ensembles, four adjudicators served as band judges: Hal Hugg, Stephen Versaeval, David Johnke, and Dr. Nathan Stark. Another four worked with the choirs. Joining Baty were Jennifer Cantley, Mary Svenvold, and Dr. Kirk Aamot. For piano, the adjudicator was Sue Strehlow

Danna Stoll, Music Festival Chair for District 7 who also serves as the Director for Havre High School Choirs, further explained Festival protocols. "The choir classes and bands performed on Friday, while the solos and smaller ensembles performed on Saturday. Choirs, singers, and piano soloists are required to memorize their pieces, but bands and solo instrumentalists don't have to memorize. After the classes perform, they go into another room and sight read."

According to the Montana High School Association Music Booklet for 2021-2022, solo and ensemble preparation remains the time-honored foundation for improving and demonstrating personal music skills within the school context. District music festivals provide the only forum in Montana in which large ensembles such as bands, orchestras, and choirs are adjudicated for a rating.

Similarly, the State Solo and Ensemble Festival exists to provide an educational experience for outstanding musicians from across the state. This experience includes: a) performance before adjudicators and other high school musicians; b) adjudication of prepared solos and/or ensembles for considered, constructive comments; c) master class and clinical instruction with other students based on prepared pieces; and d) a structured opportunity to hear the performance and adjudication of other students.

Other schools from District #7 who participated on April 22-23 were Big Sandy, Browning, Chester-Joplin-Inverness, Cut Bank, Havre, North Star, Shelby, and Sunburst.