Goldendale band and choir members receive high marks
Hallie Barta
For The Sentinel
The various music groups within the Goldendale School District's music program have had a full schedule the past few weeks, attending several annual events away from home.
The Goldendale High School concert band and choir and the Goldendale Middle School junior high band each participated in a separate adjudication festival in Yakima. Rather than being a contest between music groups, adjudication puts the unit up against a high standard of excellence. College music educators judge the group on everything from dynamics to performing in tune and rate it on a 1 to 5 scale, with 1 as the highest rating.
On March 4, the GMS band participated in the Jr. High Band Festival and achieved a rating of 1. The GHS choir scored a 2+ at the High School Choral Festival on February 24, similar to a B+ on a standard school letter-grading system.
The GHS concert band attended the High School Band Festival on February 25 and attained a rating of 2. One of the elements they were judged on that differed from the junior high band was the requirement for the whole band to collectively sight-read a piece of music they had never seen before. Director Doug Siegel was given two minutes to talk to the band about the music before they played the piece for the judge, and the GHS band scored as one of the top sight-reading bands in our music district.
These adjudications are "a measure of how I am doing as a teacher," Siegel said. "There are always new things to learn." The kids learn a lot too-part of the day is always spent listening to other groups perform, and the students learn as much from listening as from performing.
More recently, the top music students from around the Gorge gathered to participate in Mid-Columbia Honor Band, an event that showcases the talents of the best musicians from their respective concert bands. Honor Band was hosted this year by the White Salmon high school, and Goldendale sent about 25 students to play in the junior (7th-9th grade) and senior (10th-12th grade) bands. The bands rehearsed for two days before presenting a concert in White Salmon on March 9. Next year's Mid-Columbia Honor Band will be held in Goldendale.
Forum luncheons meet Thursdays during April
This year the Chamber of Commerce is making some changes in the weekly Forum Luncheons.
Renamed "Community Forum Luncheon" these meetings are a way for the community to meet with leaders, businesses, and organizations in a more casual environment. It is also a way to stay connected with what is going on in and around town. Asking questions is encouraged.
Typically these forums are held every Monday from noon to 1 p.m. Beginning Apr. 9 and continuing throughout the month of April, these forums will be moved to Thursday and will be held at the Glass Onion Restaurant on Columbus Ave.
Each month one of our Chamber Member restaurants hosts the luncheons so the schedule rotates between Gee's Family Restaurant, The Glass Onion, the Goldendale Grange No. 49, Boonie's Restaurant, and Marie's Sodbuster's Restaurant.
The forums are free to attend with the option of enjoying food from the hosting establishment. Email reminders are sent out every week. If you are interested in being added to this list, you can email info@goldendalechamber.org.
Easter egg hunt at Pine Springs
The Columbia Gorge Chapter of ABATE is having an Easter Egg hunt at Pine Springs Resort on April 12, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for ages one through 12.
"The CGC of ABATE encourages everyone to bring their children up the mountain to Pine Springs Resort, north of Goldendale on Highway 97, to enjoy the festivities," said Len Schulmeister of the Pine Springs Resort. "This will include the Easter egg hunt, feeding live bunnies, and other wonderful surprises."
For more information, call 509-773-1397. |
