On Saturday, February 11, the MICDS band program had 32 students participate in the ABC League Solo and Ensemble Festival at The Principia School. This enrichment opportunity enables students to perform solo or as an ensemble with their chosen music. In 11 events, students played in front of fellow students from other schools, parents, and a judge. The judges are music educators who follow a rubric for each event rating: Exemplary, Outstanding, Satisfactory, and Developing.
Below is a list of each event, the participants, their grade level, and the judge’s rating:
Clarinet Solo
Alayna Wright ’29 – Outstanding
Trombone Ensemble
Evan Gao ’29, Mrinali Kaswan ’29, Shayaan Merchant ’29, Shaurya Pandey ’29, Mathew Zheng ’29 – Exemplary
Mixed Ensemble
Rayna Ahmad ’29, Parker Cabbabe ’29, Anna Kowach ’29, Yusef Murphy ’29, Natasha Schultz ’29, Isabella Spann ’29, Cate Wagner ’29 – Exemplary
Saxophone Solo
Sanjay Malhotra ’28 – Exemplary
Seventh-Grade Girls Ensemble
Simera Balci ’28, Mabel Dando ’28, Savannah Garrison ’28, Sophie Hill ’28, Elizabeth Woltz ’28 – Exemplary
Seventh-Grade Boys Ensemble
SreeYash Bellam ’28, Reid Caruthers ’28, Avery Ludwig ’28, Sanjay Malhotra ’28 – Outstanding
Clarinet Solo
Daniel Kuhlman ’27 – Exemplary and Best Solo Award
Forest Gong ’27 – Exemplary
Brass Ensemble
Sadie Keech ’27, Saige Rainwater ’27, Jonathan Weiss ’27 – Outstanding
Clarinet Duet
Forest Gong ’27, Daniel Kuhlman ’27 – Exemplary
Woodwind Ensemble
Joshua Lam ’27, Nikhil Maniar ’27, Michael McGehee ’27, Maahi Saini ’27, Kaviya Senthilkumar ’27 – Exemplary
Middle School Instrumental Music Instructor Josh Baumgartner said, “I’m thrilled that 32 middle school students were ready to step up. They earned only the top two ratings possible and represented MICDS in a way that should make our community proud. I know I am very proud of these students, and I hope they are proud of themselves, too!”
Congratulations to all participants for their superb performances and for beautifully representing the instrumental music program at MICDS!