Tuesday evening (Oct. 24, 2023) the MMCRU High School presented their 9-12 Music Concert in the Marcus High School Gym. This was a first performance for the music groups in the High School that had been been under construction.
Once inside the gym, we noticed a ladder that was set up in front of a section of bleachers. This was unusual! Soon, Ms. Davis came and put the ladder down but left it in its place. The one thing new that I noticed was that the “yellow” stage curtain was gone! That color of curtain used to be a problem when taking pictures.
It was seven o’clock and the Choir Members were coming into the gym and taking their place on the riser. The Choral director is Ms. Breeana DeVos and Mrs. Kay Krekow was accompanying them on the piano.
Their first selection was “Storm”. One of the group was in charge of a drum that beat according to the coming of the storm. As we were listening to the song, the drummer had been increasing her beat to let us know the storm was slowly coming or had at last arrived.
Their second selection was “Seasons of Love”. There were two soloists that helped with this song. They concluded with “J’entends Le Moulin”. Okay, there has to be an interpretation for this song! It was, “I Hear the Windmill”. Yes, we could hear the windmill as the choir raised and lowered their voices that made it sound like wind.
Choir Members were Isabella Ahlers, Allison Astidias, Paula Bautista, Skyler Garland, Elspeth Hogg, Jordyn Holsinger, Ashley Hurtado, Heino Janse Van Rensburg, Ethan Johnson, Jacob Johnson, and Regan Konz. Aaron Letsche, Jordyn Neddermeyer, Rylee Neddermeyer, Brea Nicks, Ally Olson, Oliviah Olson, Hayden Oswald, Allison Partridge, Andrea Penning, and McCartney Pierce. Katelynn Reiter, Anthony Russell, Hope Russel%, Autumn Sanow, Erica Specht, Dylan Stevens, Caitlin Wetter, Jaxon Woodall, Mykin Youde, and Jadyn Young.
(A name with * behind it, meant All State Audition and % meant All State Acceptance.)

Now Ms. Davis came back to the ladder and set it up. There were no chairs for the band members to sit on, what was going on?! She motioned for the band members to come into the gym. There were two Drum Majors: Elsie Hogg and Hope Russell that took turns on the ladder directing the Marching Band members to their given places on the floor. If you have seen the Dance Girls we have and how they perform, then you will understand that this is what the band members were doing. They did great as they marched and played their instrument at the same time as they found their place (as well as several times, a different place). They were directed by the Drum Major in charge of that song.
Their first selection was, “I Knew You Were Trouble” (Taylor Swift). They did well in marching and finding their section. Moving on, they marched and played, “Bye, Bye, Bye” (N’Sync). They concluded with “I Want You Back (Jackson Five) and then we stood for “Mighty Oregon” which is the MMCRU School Song.
This was a different type of band music program but well done. (At least there weren’t any chairs to take down!) Ms. Emma Davis is the instructor for the band.
(A * behind a name Denotes All State Audition; a # behind a name Denotes Augustana Honor Band Participant.)
Band Members are: Flute—Caitlin Olson#, Hannah Doellinger, Allison Astidias#, Ashley Hurtado#, Caitlin Wetter, Lukas Peterson, Chloe Alesch, Aleah Lux, Hayden Oswald, and Ava Prescott. Clarinet—Leandra Klinker, Luci Haaven, Ellie Durkee, Aubrey Dirks, Annika Juhl, and Morgan Rupp.
Saxophone—Elsie Hogg (one of the Drum Majors), Brayden Dunn, Gracie Schroeder, Dylan Stevens, and Brea Nicks.
Trumpet—Hope Russell# (one of the Drum Majors), Olivia Flewelling, Brielle Lux, Elli Molzen, and Jesse Schneider.
Trombone/Baritone—Josh Doellinger, Perla Solano, and Eoin Hogg. Percussion: Carver Miller, Jadyn Young, Allison Partridge, Chris Rojas, Haydn Aduddell, AJ Russell, Ethan Johnson, and Tessa Weiler.
As I have said before, “These Choir and Band members have talent and they showed it!”
This was the first and last Music Concert for 2023 as these groups will be performing for the Madrigal Dinner Theatre at the Sawyer Center in Marcus on December and 3.
Upcoming Events: November 4—NWIBA High School Honor Band Auditions; November 10-11—Augustana Honor Band; November 16-18—All-State Festival, Iowa State University; December 2-3—Madrigal Dinner Theatre at the Sawyer Center in Marcus; and December 14—Middle School Band and Choir Holiday Concert in Remsen Gym at 7 p.m.