Keokuk Middle School band students participated in the Solo/Ensemble Music Festival held at KMS.
“The Keokuk students were well prepared and represented KMS with dedication, pride, and musicianship,” Krystal Bottorff, KMS band director, said. Also, “our audiences were wonderful, supportive and greatly appreciated and thank you to all who were able to attend.”
Bottorff along with KHS Band Director, Jimmy Pelini and volunteer, Dee Brown, worked with the students to prepare the music during the second semester. Accompanists were Carolyn Brown and Sarah Vigen. Judges for the event were Woodie Brassil, retired band director and school counselor, Karen Weirather, current elementary and music teacher in Warsaw, Illinois and Emily Otte, music teacher from Holy Trinity School in West Point, Iowa. Events this year were performed in the KMS band room, cafeteria and the choir room which were all open to in-person attendance.
The events that were given a rating of I for a “superior” performance, II for an “excellent” performance and special recognition of “Outstanding Performance.” KMS had 27 events total that evening. Of the 27 events, six were recognized as “outstanding performances” along with the rating of a I+. Those events received gold stars on the “wall of fame” as well as another star with varying colors. All other events receiving either a I+ also received stars of various colors on the “wall of fame.” Thirteen events received the rating of a I+ (including the six outstanding performances). Two events received I’s and six events received I-‘s. Four events received the rating of a II+ and two events received a rating of a II.
The events that received “outstanding performance” awards were the alto saxophone solo of Ezza Matlick; snare drum solo of Lydia Bailey; snare duet of Nina Fowlie and Kaylee Johnson; mixed duet of Blessing Takorbisong and Madden Finch; percussion ensemble; and the mixed quintet of Avery Bogert, Lara Contreras, Sadie Plenge, SaRaya Thomas and Alivia Vaughn. All “outstanding” events also each received a I+ rating. The other events that received I+ ratings were the clarinet solo of Layla Geers; mixed ensemble of Gavin Claus, Jaleel Cooper, Connor Fountain, Jordan Mendez and Michael Schneider; flute duet of Karma Batley and Nova Riddle; mixed quartet of Sophie Burns, Malia Finch, Bentley Gilpin and Eliana Nichols; trumpet duet of Dustin Curtis and Zoltan Szalma; and the flute choir. Events receiving the rating of I were the saxophone quintet of Lorelai Blackford, Jaleel Cooper, Ezza Matlick, Peyson Reed and Bella Schneider; and the snare trio of Gavin Claus, Josh Higbie and Karsyn Schrader. Events receiving the rating of I- were the mixed quartet of Whit Page, Peyson Reed, JJ Stevens and Blessing Takorbisong; clarinet solo of Emmett Malone; trumpet solo of Dustin Curtis; low brass choir; clarinet trio of Valentinn Abdasir, Izzy Acker and Averie Piersee; and trumpet choir. Events receiving the rating of II+ were the trumpet solo of Alex Fox; timpani solo of Jackson Rose; trumpet solo of Magness Abfalter-Dial; the mixed duet of FaeAnn Leroy and Olivia Swindler. Events receiving the rating of II were the mixed quartet of Lorelai Blackford, Cameron Cole, Harley King, Bella Schneider and Patrick Takorbisong; and flute quintet of Aubree Chapman, Mia Han, Silus Huston, Tamarie Long and Gaia McKay.
Bottorff would also like to thank the many parents, community members, staff members, and students who all pitched in with various jobs to make the event on Feb. 5 possible. Also, “essential to the success of the event were our judges, accompanists and our KMS administrators, Jim Short and Amanda Mason. A special thank you to our custodial staff for their extra efforts with this event as well.”
