BHS musicians do well at music festival

Several soloists, small ensembles, and large ensembles from Belgrade High School received the highest rating at a recent music festival.

There are multiple Montana High School Association (MHSA) district music festivals held throughout the state. Belgrade High School students participated in one held April 10 and 11 at Gallatin High School. Students performed for adjudicators who provided feedback on musicianship and performance. Students who receive the highest rating -- Superior – have the opportunity to participate in the Eastern State Music Festival on May 2 in Billings.

Soloists who received the superior rating include MacKenzie Cardwell on alto saxophone, Kasey Clemens on bassoon, Kady Hommen on clarinet, and Kaitlyn Williams on bassoon.

The BHS Brass Ensemble, which includes Dillon Butts, Michael Chandler, and Jadone Luciani, also received the superior rating, as did BHS Jazz Band and BHS Wind Symphony.

“District Music Festival includes schools from Helena to Livingston and lets students receive feedback on music that they've taken their own time to prepare,” wrote BHS Band Director Drake Pannell in an email.

All curricular ensembles are required to perform at the festival so that students' musical abilities can be evaluated across schools in Montana, according to Pannell.

“Using adjudicator feedback, directors can guide their programs to success and avoid trappings they may not realize,” he wrote. “By getting a fresh set of ears on a piece of music, us directors can further develop our ensembles into musical powerhouses.”