The Clarke Central High School wind ensemble band practices for the spring Large Group Performance Evaluation. The bands traveled to participate in LGPE on Feb 28, March 14 and March 15 and all three bands were awarded superior ratings. “It was good to see all the effort and practice we put in come out as a superior,” freshman Chandler Pendley, a percussionist said. “We knew what we wanted. We were very determined, and I think we did a good job as a band, so the superior was not surprising.” Photo by Zoe Peterson.
By ELENA GILBERTSON HALL – Staff Writer
The Clarke Central High School bands traveled to neighboring districts to participate in Large Group Performance Evaluations and all three bands received superior ratings.
For the first time ever, CCHS’ three bands — the wind ensemble, concert band and symphonic band — all achieved superior ratings, the highest possible rating, at the spring Large Group Performance Evaluation (LGPE). All of CCHS’ bands received a superior rating in their prepared performances, and the symphonic band received a superior in sight reading as well.
“I think straight superiors across our bands is amazing and it just shows that we care about what we’re doing, and we are all devoted and want to do the best we can,” freshman Anna Blum, a trombone player for the concert band, said.
Director of bands Dr. Robert Lawrence felt emotional when he received the news that all of his bands had received superior ratings.
“Going last, the symphonic band felt the pressure of the other groups. When they got on the bus (after the evaluation), they were really quiet,” Lawrence said. “I went inside and got the evaluation sheets, and I saw them, and I would be the first one to say I had tears in my eyes. I had big crocodile tears in my eyes.”
Dr. Robert Lawrence, Clarke Central High School director of bands, speaking about his bands performances at LGPE. Click the play button to hear him talk. Sound bite by Elena Gilbertson Hall.
Each band was required to perform three prepared songs for a group of three judges, and then complete a sight reading evaluation.
“(For sight reading) you are given six minutes to look at a piece of music and then you have to play it all the way through. And that piece of music is based on the skill level of your group,” Lawrence said. “You could count, clap, sing — whatever during those six minutes, as long as you weren’t playing your instrument.”
The wind ensemble played “Marche of Belgian Paratroopers”, “Khan” and “Minimalist Dances.” The concert band performed “General Lee”, “On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss” and “Among the Clouds.” The symphonic band performed “Peacemaker March”, “Clouds that Sail in Heaven” and “Electricity.”
Senior Sandra Evans, a bassoon player, plays a scale and Marche of Belgian Paratroopers song which the CCHS wind ensemble band played at LGPE. Click the play button to listen. Sound bite by Elena Gilbertson Hall.
“(At LGPE), the wind ensemble had one of their best runs, but they’ve been having best runs for three weeks. The wind ensemble was playing superior since Feb. 1. And I had to hold them in the road until the 28th,” Lawrence said. “When they got through with that performance, they stood up with exuberance and looked at the judges, and I was like, ‘I know we did good. I know.’ They played. They flat played.”
Not everyone was quite as confident that they would receive a superior rating. Sophomore Jordan Raysor, a trumpet player in the symphonic band, felt the performance had problems.
“(Our performance) wasn’t one of our best runs. We could have done better, but we did really well compared to years past,” Raysor said. “I knew we didn’t do our best, and I thought the judges would have picked up on that, but we got straight ones.”
Evans did not originally believe that the wind ensemble would receive a superior rating, but is proud of the results that they earned. Click on the play button to hear her talk. Sound bite by Elena Gilbertson Hall.
In spite of any misgivings by students, Lawrence was pleased with the work of the performers and the outcome.
“The awards are very important to me because they show the hard work of some well-deserving kids. They work hard for that medal. They work hard for that plaque to go on the wall — to be able to say, ‘I was in that band,’” Lawrence said.
According to freshman Quinn Phillips, a flute player for the wind ensemble, the awards are not the only important thing to take away from LGPE.
“(LGPE) was a good experience. I felt that I grew a lot during the course (of LGPE) because I was with so many experienced upperclassmen. It really helped me grow as a musician,” Phillips said.
The bands had been practicing some of their songs since the fall, and put in many hours of work to perfect their performance for LGPE.
“We put in a lot of practice. Four days a week we practice in class, we had a lot of after-school practices, and in the weeks leading up to LGPE we would come in almost every Saturday to rehearse for four hours,” Phillips said.
According to several band students, being under the leadership of Lawrence was a major factor in the bands’ success.
“Dr. Lawrence expects a lot of us. He sets the bar really high and he pushes us to achieve our goals. He doesn’t baby us, he leaves all the pressure on us and it works somehow,” senior Davion Pope, a French horn and tuba player in the wind ensemble said.
Lawrence’s students credit him with their success, but he feels that it is his student’s own commitment which has lead them to their accomplishments. Click the play button to hear him speak. Sound bite by Elena Gilbertson Hall.
After the bands return from LGPE, they take the judges’ comments into consideration in order to improve their performance for next year.
“Our kids listen very carefully to the judges’ comments. The students were more critical of their performance than the judges. And that’s good. That’s what it takes to reach consistency,” Lawrence said. “We have remarkable band kids here at Clarke Central. I’m happy to be a motivating force behind them to push them to the next level, but they are very self-driven. For them, the sky is the limit.”
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