GMS bands, choirs all earn gold ratings at contest

On Friday, April 8, the Greencastle Middle School instrumental students competed in the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) organizational competition at McCutcheon High School, and on Saturday, April 9, the GMS vocal students competed at West Lafayette Jr.-Sr. High School.

The students spent many hours preparing three pieces and performed before a panel of three highly qualified judges.

There are five different groups that a band or choir could enter in from Group V (easier music) to Group I (very difficult). Each ensemble is graded in several different categories including intonation, tone quality, note and rhythm accuracy, interpretation, dynamics, and musicianship. Points are awarded and final ratings given from gold to participation.

The GMS sixth-grade band played "Splashdown," "Planets in Motion" and "Night," and received a Gold rating. Fifty-two students participate in the sixth-grade band.

The GMS seventh- and eighth-grade band played "National Emblem March," "Prelude on a German Hymnsong" and "Shackelford Banks," and received a Gold rating. Sixty students participate in the seventh- and eighth-grade band.

The GMS sixth-grade choir sang "Glorificamus Te," "The Guitar Man" and "On the Railroad," and received a Gold rating. The sixth-grade choir consists of 45 students.

The GMS treble choir sang "Jubilate, Alleluia!," "The April Rainbow" and "Lightning!," and received a Gold rating. Eighty students participate in the treble choir.

The GMS seventh- and eighth-grade choir sang "Nonny Nonny No," "Two in the Middle" and "Come in from the Firefly Darkness," and received a Gold rating. One hundred students participate in the seventh- and eighth-grade choir.

The choirs were accompanied by Lori Miller. The bands and choirs are directed by Kathryn Dory with Robert Hedge assisting the sixth-grade band.

Mrs. Dory would like to thank the GMS staff and parents that chaperoned the groups. She and her students are also grateful for the parental support with practicing, performances and attendance at the competitions.