University Interscholastic League and Solo and Ensemble Qualifiers

Two days ago our orchestra traveled to Newman-Smith High School in Carrollton, Texas to participate in the University Interscholastic League Competition. The Students loaded in the bus around 11:30 am and set our for Carrollton. By noon we were unloading the instruments and heading into the practice room. During the practice we reviewed several mistakes that needed to be fixed before we played before the judges and managed to practice quite well, despite an untimely periodic bell that caught many of us off guard. At approximately twelve-thirty pm the Wakeland High School Varsity 4A Orchestra made its way to the concert stage to play "Fantasia On An Original Theme" by Joseph J. Philips, "Traumerai" by Robert Schumann, and "Coronation March" by Giacomo Meyerbeer before a panel of three judges. All three pieces were played with very exceptional skill with only a few mistakes in the concert. For the concert the Wakeland High School Orchestra received two scores of an Excellent rating (2), and one score of Superior rating (1), which placed the Orchestra at an even score of a 2 rather than a 1. After the concert the group then moved on to the sight reading room. In this room the group received ten minutes to be taught a song without playing the piece at all then play it for another panel of three judges. The piece was very well played and the group kept together throughout the entire piece. The scores from this section of the competition mimicked the scores from the stage to a point of two 2's and one 1. The scores from this section, again was a 2, so the Wakeland High School Varsity 4A Orchestra left the University Interscholastic League Competition with a score of two 2's, just shy of the Superior rating we strive for, but still in the Excellent rating. After the fact of the scores being released our director Ms. Duston was quoted as saying "The playing on the stage was a much better [caliber] than last year, and last year we received all one's". Hopefully next year the orchestra will go back and take home the sweepstakes! Congratulations everyone on your playing this year at the University Interscholastic League competition.
Also, February 18th, 2012 the Wakeland High School orchestra sent nineteen participants to the Solo and Ensemble Competition. Six soloists and three ensembles moved on to qualify for the state level of Solo and Ensemble, congratulations to the soloists:

• Courtney Erbes, Harp
• Drew Acosta, Violin
• Gillian Lee, Piano
• Gillian Lee, Violin
• Cameron Hamer, Violin
• Jae Choi, Violin 

and the ensembles that moved on:

• Drew Acosta (Violin) and Courtney Erbes (Harp)
• Jamie Kwak (Violin) and Taylor Michie (Violin)
• Jae Choi (Violin), Cameron Hamer (Violin), Joseph Geller (Viola)

Congratulations Wakeland Orchestra on all of your recent accomplishments, I hope this is only a sign of the good things to come!

Tyler English, Orchestra Co-President
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