Cooper City High Wind Ensemble
BY JACQUELINE QUINONES AND MELANIE SMITH
After hours of diligent preparation, both the Cooper City High School Symphonic and Wind Ensemble bands thrived at the Musical Performance Assessment (MPA) on March 14, with the Symphonic Band receiving an overall rating of Excellent and the Wind Ensemble receiving straight Superiors.
The assessment is a chance for bands from different schools to be graded on three songs by three judges based on tone quality, timing, style, and other aspects. In addition to their prepared pieces, bands must also be able to sight-read, when they are judged on their ability to read and play a piece of music never seen before. Each individual song is then given a score on a scale ranging from “Poor” to “Good” to “Fair to “Excellence” to the highest score, “Superior”; the overall rating is an average of the scores given by each adjudicator of the entire performances. If an ensemble receives an overall Superior, then they continue perfecting their music in preparation for the tougher state Music Performance Assessment held at Florida International University on May 2.
Selecting the pieces from a list of musical literature approved by the FBA, band director Christopher Schletter chose several challenging pieces for the Symphonic Band and the Wind Ensemble that left a lasting impression. The Symphonic Band performed Festivo, Dusk, and Monarch March while the Wind Ensemble chose a program consisting of Rocky Point Holiday, Elegy for a Young American, and White Rose March. Students worked on their pieces everyday for an hour in class, in addition to individual practice time at home. While this may seem like too much under the strenuous schedule of academics, the prospect of going to States and the legacy of the CCHS Sound of Pride before them motivates members to make time in their schedule.
“Mr. Schletter always says ‘superior results come from superior effort’ and that’s exactly the motto that we’re practicing by,” Trumpet Captain Sarah Jacobs said. “We have really challenging music but we’re working it through the best that we can.”
After countless hours of perfecting their music, the hard work of the Sound of Pride members paid off when the Symphonic Band received an overall rating of Excellent and the Wind Ensemble received straight Superiors, qualifying for the State Music Assessment. Both on and off the stage, everyone was floored with both performances, amazed at what a group of students led by a band director could accomplish.
“What you feel after performing something you have worked hours and hours to master, and then nailing it, is just incredible,” Symphonic Band member Gabrielle Fickinger said. “It is then you realize that all of that has work paid off.”
As stated on FBA’s website, MPA was originally a small gathering consisting of a few high school bands that would come together at the University of Florida in an effort to improve the music programs across Florida. This small group eventually became the Florida Bandmasters Association, which collectively works to “improve musical standards and make music an integral part of the school curriculum”, supported by their slogan, “A Band In Every School”. In addition to other events, they introduced the Musical Performance Assessments, allowing bands to perform and receive feedback that will help them grow as musicians.
For the Wind Ensemble, their work is just beginning. Improvement must be made through numerous hours of practice before these band members attend the States Music Performance Assessment in just a few weeks; for in music, nothing will ever be 100% perfect, but one must try to make it as close as possible. While Symphonic Band will not be going to States, their work does not end as both bands must begin to prepare for Encore!, a show that incorporates everything in the Sound of Pride program from concert to marching band to winter guard.
Cooper City High Symphonic Band
