Program included upperclass groups’ superior-rated contest numbers
The Mountain Lake Public High School’s (MLHS) Music Department, highlighting the Junior High and Senior High bands and choirs celebrated March as “Music In Our Schools Month” with a Monday evening, March 24 concert in the school’s auditorium. The program featured the senior high groups’ superior-rated contest numbers from the Large Group Music Contest held Wednesday, March 19 at Red Rock Central Public High School in Lamberton. Andrea Brinkman is the vocal director, while Kurt Jahnke wields the baton for the instrumental groups.
Following are photographs from the evening event:
THE MLHS JUNIOR High Band, led by Kurt Jahnke, instrumental director. The group shared three selections, “New Era Fanfare” by Russel D. Standridge, “Down by the Salley Gardens” arranged by Michael Sweeney and “American Celebration” by Gerald Sebesky.
JUNIOR HIGH FLUTIST Caitlyn Johnson focuses in like a laser on her music.
ON SAXOPHONE, McKINLEY DeVries, front and Travis Willaby, back.
JAREYA HARDER SHARED the mellow notes of the French horn.
VOCAL INSTRUCTOR ANDREA Brinkman directed her Junior High Choir in their numbers. The group sang “Music Speaks” arranged by Andy Beck, “Jubilate Deo” by Mary Lynn Lightfoot and “Waka, Waka (This Time for Africa)” arranged by Mary Brymer and featuring MLHS student Daniel Harder as accompanist. Kurt Jahnke was accompanist for the first two songs sung by the choir.
JUNIOR HIGH CHOIR members sing out on one of their three songs. Front, from left, Dayton Hanson, Nick Curry, Morgan Pietsch and Kayla Vonk. Middle, from left, Zach Spinks, Maleek Sewart and Ryan Pedersen. Back, from left, Madison Dahna, Maritza Lopez and Kristina Vongkaenchanh.
ALL EYES ON Director Brinkman. These Junior High Choir members include, front, from left, Katie Garza, Taylor Naas, Eli Karschnik and Junior Louangsaphakdy. Second row, from lefgt, Skylar McKinney, Jaelin Renquist, Briana Lopez and Diana Garcia. Third row, from left, Deanna Nunthavong, Jewel Soutthivong and A. J. Vongsy. Back, from left, Brittney Fredericksen, Taylor Hudson, Jareya Harder, Jorja Lepp and Marta Stoesz.
MEMBERS OF THE SENIOR HIGH Band in concert mode and led by Kurt Jahnke. The group presented their superior-rated contest selections, “Epitaph” by Bill Locklear and “Havendance” by David Hoslinger.
A TRIO OF the Senior High Band’s percussion team. From front-to-back, Eric-John Niss on xylophone, Hamlet Tanyavong on tympani and Jaden Hoek on xylophone.
CLARINETISTS, FROM LEFT, Daniel Harder, Anna Engstrom and Karen Soutthviong.
TWO TROMBONISTS – AND a cellist. Front-to-back, on trombone, Tylor Duerksen and Andrew Hirsch and on cello, Reece Englund.
THE SENIOR HIGH Choir takes to the risers under the bandshell, led by Andrea Brinkman. They also presented their two contest numbers for which they received superior ratings from the judges – “In Remembrance” by Jeffery L. Ames, featuring MLHS students Josh Fast on French horn and Daniel Harder as piano accompanist and “Faithful Over a Few Things (Be Thou Faithful)” by Glenn Burleigh. They also performed “Ni Jina Gani” (Swahili dialect translation: “What name in all the earth is greatest? Truly it is the name of God. I love it, that name; I boast and stomp because of that name”) arranged by Eugene Rogers and “Niska Banja” (a Romanian dance whose translation is: “The gypsies will go to the hot springs of Nis (in Serbia) looking for love, and will kiss, kiss, kiss”) arranged by Nick Page, with Daniel Harder on clarinet and piano accompanists Levi Jahnke and Kurt Jahnke.
SENIOR HIGH CHOIR altos. Front, from left, Carmen Syverson, Chanah Brandt and Kalley Rempel. Back, from left, Liana Blomgren and Hannah Stoesz.
A SECTION OF the Senior High Choir. Front, from left, Lily Kauffman, Nicole Rahn, Meghann Bergstrom, Kaylee Wolle, Bailey Freitag, Deaunna Carter-Finne, Caitlin Brandt, Anita Xaykosy and Jenna Molitor. Second row, from left, Kenna Gardiner, Katherine Hofmann, Chandra Pfeiffer, Olivia Hopwood, Alexa Heffele and Annie Hanson. Third row, from left, Jack Wendt, Hunter Dahna, Alex Sunderman, Akin Tema-Lopez and Caleb Rempel. Back, from left, Sam Xayanourom, Tommy Kraemer, Andrew Hempeck, Zach Dickens, Demar Rodney and Jose Gonzalez.
