Thirteen Monroe High School Band and Orchestra scored either “1”s or “2”s in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association State Solo and Ensemble Festival on Saturday (March 21) at Chelsea High School.

     Receiving “Division One” ratings at the festival were: Nichols Howerton, flute solo;  Grant Prater, trumpet solo in Proficiency 1;  Morgan Kline, violin solo in Proficeincy 1;  Mary Stehulak, xylophone solo in Proficiency 3;  and Mary Stehulak and Kristine Castellese, marimba duet.

     Receiving “Division Two” ratings were:  Abigail Snow, trumpet solo in Proficiency 2; Jeffery Howard, trumpet solo; Emily Ray and Kristin Guyor, flute duet; and Haley Head, Morgan Kline, Haleigh Bonk and Gillian Cramner, string quartet.

     Students perform before a judge who specializes in the particular instrument.  Ratings range from “One” to “Five” with a “One” rating being the best.  Also, solo proficiency levels range from 1 to 3, with 3 being the hardest.

     All of the Monroe High School finalists are students of either Mr. Jim Nuechterlein (winds) or Mrs. Ann Felder (strings.) 

     More than 8,000 high school band and orchestra students from Michigan high schools participated in the state-wide festival.  These students qualified for the State Festival by participating in District Festivals attended by more than 60,000 students from over 500 schools in 16 districts throughout the state.

     Up to 180 of these soloists will be recommended to audition to become one of only five soloists at the annual Youth Arts Festival.  The highest rated solo entries will be invited to become members of the MSBOA State Honors Band, orchestra, or Jazz Ensemble of the Youth Arts Festival and will perform at Western Michigan University on May 7-9, 2015.