State music festival for the Big Sandy musical department was a successful and fun experience for both the students and administrators. Mrs. Amanda Robertson is the band and choir director for the Big Sandy high school. She also teaches music in the elementary school and guitar lessons at the high school. This year the high school music department has entered and succeeded at State music festival on May fifth.
State festival is a great opportunity for musical students to practice, perform, and receive positive feedback and criteria about their prepared pieces. Students use their voices and instruments to perform. There are five ratings that a student will get. A five being the lowest rating and a one being the highest rating. When a student goes to district music festival they perform their piece to an adjudicator and if they receive a one for a rating they are eligible for state. There were fourteen pieces that made it to state from Big Sandy.
All the students worked extremely hard on their pieces since April. They spent hours practicing during class, with themselves, and with their accompanists. All of the accompanists dedicated themselves into working hard for the students. Melanie Schwarzbach, Nona Danreuther, Cheryl Strutz, and Amanda Robertson all accompanied the students. With the help of the accompanists all the students were able to properly prepare their pieces.
Mrs. Robertson has welcomed back Big Sandy sweethearts and select. The Big Sandy sweethearts is an all-female ensemble consisting of ninth through twelfth graders. The Big Sandy select is also an ensemble which consists of tenth through twelfth graders, both boys and girls. Not only did both ensembles make it to state but they both got the highest rating. Sandy sweethearts performed Where Peaceful Waters Flow and Sandy select performed Follow the Sun. Both songs were pleasant, and the ensembles did an amazing job performing.
The Big Sandy music program is productively increasing, which is helpful for the future of the music program. State music festival was an amazing opportunity for the students. All the accompanists worked very hard and kindly helped the students perform. With the students working hard and Mrs. Robertson's direction the Big Sandy music program has a bright future.
