Monticello bands and choir rated superior at Region and State

The Monticello High School Symphonic Band, Monticello High School A Cappella Choir, the Monticello 8th grade band and the Monticello 7th Grade band all participated in the annual Region 19 Large Group Music Festival at Whitehorse High School on April 19.  All of the MHS groups received “Superior” ratings from the two judges.  The Symphonic Band was awarded a “Superior Plus” I+ rating from one of the judges.   
Because of the superior ratings, the Symphonic Band and the A Cappella Choir both qualified to participate in the Utah Music Educator Association (UMEA) State Band and UMEA State Choir Festivals.  At the state festivals, both groups were again rated “Superior” by the panels of three judges.
At the region and state festivals,  the MHS bands and choir performed three concert selections before a large crowd and three judges.
Each group performance on stage was evaluated in Performance Fundamentals, Technical Preparation, and Musical Effect. Judges rated each group’s performance on a five-point scale ranging from “Superior” to “Poor”.
On stage at the State Band Festival at Jordan High School, the MHS Symphonic Band performed “Fanfare for a New Generation”, “Colors of a New Day” and “Trumpets of Splendor” and was rated Superior by all judges. Judges for the event were Sheri Manning, instrumental music supervisor for schools in Las Vegas, Gary Ambrosier, former band director and music supervisor for schools in Grand Junction, and Calvin Hofer, Music Department Chair at Mesa State in Grand Junction.
At the UMEA State Choir Festival held at Maple Mountain High School, the MHS A Cappella Choir performed “Cantate Hodie”, “Keep Your Lamps”, and “Ave Maria.  Following their superior rated performance, the choir was judged by Susan Mann from Blackfoot, ID, Dr. Mark Henderson from Weber State University and Dr. Jessica Napoles, from the University of Utah.
Wayne Erickson, MHS music teacher, said, “The UMEA State Festivals are quite challenging in that 1A school groups are judged by the same criteria and to the same standard as the larger schools.  It is an opportunity to assess where our groups are in comparison with schools such as Timpview, American Fork, Davis, and Lone Peak.  
“Our San Juan School District 1A schools came away looking quite good, as both the Monticello and Whitehorse Bands and the MHS A Cappella Choir were rated superior.  This reflects the importance of music in our schools as demonstrated by the excellent support music receives from district administration, the school board, and our communities.”