CCS takes three Best of Class awards at SPVA music contest

Sunshine but lots of wind greeted seven schools to the SPVA Music Contest at Chase County Schools Monday.
The six schools joining CCS at the contest were Bridgeport, Hershey, Kimball, North Platte St. Pat’s, Perkins County and Sutherland.
“The day went very well despite the challenge the students faced coming back after five days of spring break and a snow day right into a music contest—but it all worked out,” said Agnes Strand, CCS Director of Bands.
“Other schools faced similar challenges as they were also coming off of a week-long spring break,” Strand added.
Strand said she and vocal music instructor, David Rushing, were pleased with the judging.
“The judges treated the kids with great care and took time to give them instruction on areas they could work on and complimented them where it was deserved,” she said.
She added that the judges were tough but super positive with the students, giving grades that were thought out and fair across the board.
CCS instrumental students receiving Best of Class for an alto/tenor saxophone duet were Virginia Kimble and Kayla Chavira.
There were eight I ratings, 10 II’s and one III rating, Strand said.
For vocal students, Rushing said they received two Best of Class awards.
Sophie Fiedler won with a girls medium voice solo, while Lucy Spady and Fiedler were also Best of Class with a girls vocal duet.
Other CCS vocal entries garnered were two I ratings and three II ratings.
Best of Class for large groups went to Kimball’s show choir and Hershey’s jazz band.
“David and I are super grateful to Sandy O’Neil for the hours she put in organizing the schedule and running the TAB room,” said Strand.
“We also want to add how grateful we are for the terrific judges for their energy and enthusiasm throughout the day; the custodial staff for set up/maintenance/tear down; our faculty who absolutely rocked in their professional handling of a crazy day; to Jill Bauerle, Darcie Boman and their minions for running concessions and finally to Mike Sorensen for being the calm in our storm,” she said.
It takes a boatload of people to host a contest like this, Strand added.
Rob Browning was greatly appreciated for his talented accompaniment on the keyboard for many of the performing students, she said.
“Now we have to get ready to host district music contest at CCS on April 22,” Strand said.
Here are the CCS contests ratings:

Vocal
Best of Class—Lucy Spady and Sophie Fiedler - Girls Vocal Duet, singing “Spring Wind”; Sophie Fiedler - Girls Medium Solo Voice, singing “Per la gloria d’adorarvi”
Superior (I)—Lucy Spady and Sophie Fiedler - Girls Vocal Duet, singing “Spring Wind” - Best of Class; Andrew Wiest - Boys Medium Solo Voice, singing “Scars in Heaven”; Sophie Fiedler - Girls Medium Solo Voice, singing “Per la gloria d’adorarvi” - Best of Class; Lucy Spady - Girls Medium Solo Voice, singing “Caro mio ben”
Excellent (II)—9th St. Singers - Show Choir; Brendan Pump - Boys Medium Solo Voice, singing “The Way You Look Tonight”; Brooke Schilke - Girls Medium Solo Voice, singing “Vergin, tutto amor”
Band
Best of Class—Virginia Kimble and Kayla Chavira - Alto/Tenor saxophone duet
Superior (I)—Ella O’Neil - flute solo; LaReina Colton - flute solo; Virginia Kimble - alto sax solo; Zachary Herbert - trombone solo; Virginia Kimble and Kayla Chavira - Alto/tenor saxophone duet; Brendan Pump and Cameron Johnson - Alto/baritone sax duet; Peyton Dubas and Ian Moreno - Trumpet duet; Simply Jazz
Excellent (II)—Tristan Stumpff and Joslyn Kimble - Trumpet Ensemble; Nickolas Rau - Percussion (snare); Caleb West, Shelby Schoenholz, Krystal Smith and Virginia Kimble - Mixed Woodwind quartet; Cameron Johnson - Baritone Sax solo; Shelby Baird and Alejandra Castillo - Percussion (snare duet) ensemble; Tristan Stumpff - Trumpet solo; Dawson Mollendor, Zachary Herbert, Jesus Medina and James McArthur - Low brass ensemble; Jesus Medina -  Trombone solo; Andrew Wiest - Piano solo; Navy Smith -  Piano solo
Good rating (III)—Hope Reinke and Tristen Stumpff - Mixed Wind ensemble