6 minute read
Big Fun. Big Talent. Big 9 Music Festival
from SCENE April 2020
by Kate Noet
BIG FUN. BIG TALENT.
BIG 9 MUSIC FESTIVAL
Q&A with Music Instructors Century HS, Owatonna HS
One of the longest standing and most impressive music events in southern Minnesota belongs to some of the region’s youngest performers. The 88th annual Big Nine Music Festival is Friday, May 1, at Rochester Century High School. It is a spectacle of top-performing choirs, bands and orchestras of the Big 9 schools. Top musicians are chosen from each school, to prepare special music for the select orchestra, select choir and select band performances. The festival brings over 2,000 student musicians together to perform for each other and clinicians and to showcase the musical talents of the students in the Big Nine Conference. The 12 schools in the Big Nine Conference include Albert Lea, Austin, Faribault, Mankato West and East, Northfield, Owatonna, Story by PAT GARRY Contributing Writer
Red Wing, Winona, and Mayo, John Marshall and Century, all from Rochester.
Q&A with Amanda Kaus Century Band Director/Century HS
Approximately how many of your band student performers gather for the festival, throughout the day? AK: The festival brings together one representative band (orchestra and choir) from each school. Symphonic Winds is the ensemble representing Century and is comprised of 61 students.
interactions across the conference in the athletic setting, and the music festival allows students to hear concert ensembles and witness the variety of programs and musical selections within the context of a supportive, encouraging environment.
Q&A with Sandra L. Justice Orchestra Director/ Owatonna HS
30 minutes throughout the day, with a lunch break. Bands will be performing in the Century Auditorium, Orchestra in the Century Gymnasium, and Choirs at Redeemer Lutheran Church. The Grand Finale Concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the Century Gymnasium. What does this event mean for your school, its music program, and the community? SJ: This event means dedication, persistence, and pride for our school, music programs, and community. For the Owatonna music department, excellence is the expectation of all of our ensembles, and we pride ourselves in the quality of musicians
What does this event mean for your school, its music program, and the community? AK: This will be the 88th Annual Big 9 Music Festival and is the oldest high school conference music festival in the country. For many, it is the highlight of the musical year and something we work toward throughout the year. It is a source of pride to continually bring together ensembles from all the conference schools and feature the hard work and musicianship of our school ensembles.
Please give me names of guest clinicians that will be on site. AK: Band – Andrew Mast, Lawrence University; Choir – Timothy Sawyer, University of Northwestern, St. Paul; Orchestra – David Kozamchak, U niversity of Northwestern, St. Paul.
What is your opinion/observation of what this experience means to the students? AK: I think the festival is a unique experience for students, as it provides them both an opportunity to share their music with others beyond our own school and community, as well as experience performances from other members of the conference. Students are familiar with the
Sandra Justice that we produce not only at this festival, but at every performance we give throughout the year.
What is your opinion/observation of what this experience means to the students, i.e. comments you might have heard from some of the performers, etc.? SJ: This day really opens students’ eyes as to what the musical offerings of the Big 9 Conference are. We are familiar with the athletic programs due to our competitions, but this day is really about embracing what role music plays within our conference. The students enjoy listening to other schools perform and have a mutual understanding of the work and effort put in. It is an opportunity to support one another in a non-competitive environment and really cheer on the successes each group has to offer. As a past participant in the Big 9 Festival, I can tell you that I routinely talked about this festival throughout my time teaching in Missouri and Texas. It is a gem of a festival and is a great opportunity for our communities to gather for a day of sharing the gift of music. The legacy that has been created of students who have participated spans multiple generations. It is a true honor to continue this great festival. The educational benefits and comradery created through performances at Big 9 is unique and unrivaled.
CO NTINUE D page 14
Approximately how many of your orchestra student performers gather for the festival, throughout the day? RW: There are 38 students in Symphonic Strings that will perform at Big Nine.
What does this event mean for your school, its music program, and the community? RW: Gathering all the schools in our conference together to celebrate our love of music is a wonderful opportunity we are all honored to take part in. There is joy and beauty in creating music, and this is a time when we are able to enjoy the hard work and dedication all of our students have put in. We are able to take all we’ve learned in the classroom and apply it to a performance experience in an uplifting and supportive environment. Hosting this experience is a lot of work, but will be worth the time and effort. This event is open to the community to come and observe part or all of the day. As we see more and more need in our society for improved social/emotional skills, music can help students and audiences alike to tune into this often-neglected area of our lives. In order to create music, not just notes on a page, students need to be dialed into the emotional feel of the pieces they play. They need to be able to express to their audience the “story” that unfolds during this one moment in time that we create this piece of music together.
What is your opinion/observation of what this experience means to the students, i.e. comments you might have
heard from some of the performers, etc.? RW: S tudents very much enjoy this day. It’s a chance to celebrate their hard work behind closed rehearsal doors. Century students are especially proud to be hosting this year. They enjoy the
opportunity to perform for other schools and hear the other schools as well. The feedback from the adjudicator serves to encourage and motivate them. It’s one thing for their teacher to say “well done”, it’s another to hear it from an objective adjudicator. SMS
40th Anniversary C elebration
We make any ride look, smell and feel brand new!
Saturday, April 25 7:00 pm Cannon Falls High School 820 Minnesota Street East, Cannon Falls
Sunday, April 26 3:00 pm St. John’s Hall 500 West Third Street, Northfield
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.
FREE hand wash with any package over $159.00 (a 49.00 value) when you mention Southern MN Scene
15% off any boat detailing between now and April 15th –Hurry in to catch these savings!
