Performers from Ensemble Event
More than 450 band and orchestra students performed at the 2022 District 64 Solo & Ensemble Festival. Band students performed on February 17, while orchestra students performed on March 10; Lincoln Middle School hosted both evenings.
The Solo & Ensemble Festival is an annual opportunity for students to showcase their talents in front of family and friends. Students perform a solo on their instrument or join forces with other students to participate in a duet, trio, or quartet or as a larger ensemble.
The student musicians select and practice their music in advance, so that it's refined and ready to be played for a small, appreciative audience of family and friends as well as a judge.
The judge listens and provides a written evaluation of the performance, and rates the student(s) on such factors as posture, tone, rhythm, intonation and technique, along with offering feedback on ways to improve. Afterwards, students receive a medal based on their performance and rating in the festival.
“Solo & Ensemble Festival is a way to challenge students to perform while allowing them to gain valuable experience and confidence on their instrument”, according to D64's Instrumental Music Curriculum Specialist, Erica Faulhaber.
Instrumental music teachers who instruct these students include Eric Bachmann, Elisabeth Ballinger, Natalie Briggs, Erica Faulhaber, Max Hellermann, Ilona Hutter, Alex Teater and Jamie Zimniok.
Congratulations to all who participated in this year's event!