Tuesday (May 17) the MMCRU Middle School with Grades 5-8 presented their Band and Vocal Music Concert. Band instructor was Ms. Emma Davis and Vocal instructor was Ms. Breeana DeVos. Kay Krekow was Vocal Accompanist.
The 5th Grade Choir took to the risers with, “Meant to Be”, a very timely song for this program. They concluded with “Three Quotes by Mark Twain”.
5th Grade Choir members are Garrett Alesch, Gavin Alesch, Kaysen Ankenman, Laiken Bork, Ava Frederick, Katie Haaven, Trenton Hageman, TJ Hermanson, Gabby Johnson, Casaeda Jones, Colt Krier, Chloe Martinez, Ashley Mouser, Charlie Murray, Lilly Olson, Neysi Perez, Samantha Peterson, Bentley Reed, Aubrey Specht, Faith Spenner, Thelsalynn Stephen, Giana Stevens, and Kaydence Stites.
The 5th Grade Band favored the audience with “The Frog’s Song”_and the sound of a frog was heard!. They moved on to a “Russian Folk Song”, “Michael Finnegan”, and concluded with, “Mahnomen Harvest”. This is the first year for this band and they did well!
5th Grade Band members are: Jayda Decker, Katie Haaven, Casaeda Jones, Celia Shea, and Kaydence (Flutes). Laiken Bork, Ava Frederick, Samantha Peterson, Jorja Regenniter, and Faith Spenner (Clarinets). Playing (Saxophones) were Amaya Gengler, Charlie Murray, Lilly Olson, and Ethan Steffen. Gavin Alesch, Rebekah Casson, Ashley Mouser, Bentley Reed and Emmett Rupp played (Trumpets). (Trombone) players were Garrett Alesch, Jagger Becker, Owen Erickson, and Trenton Hageman. (Percussion) players were Colton Heubrock, TJ Hermanson, and Nora Sanow.
The 6th Grade Choir sang, “Something Just Like This”.
6th Grade Choir members are: Isaac Astidias, Jeff Braun, Peyton Busch, Taya Delperdang, Rachel Doellinger, Kyndell Freeman, Kinzie Glassmaker, Taya Grage, Willow Hageman, Samantha Hill, Angelique Hurtado, Carter Jungers, Cooper Loutch, Madison Lowden, Thomas McKinney, Carson Meyer, Brayden Miller, Rylee Nissen-Teepe, Andrew Peterson, Tenleigh Porter, Logan Regennitter, Marissa Rojas, Benjamin Ross; Cody Schmillen, Aiden Shea, Hailey Staab, Raya Staab, Brady Tentinger, Gracie Todd, Tori Treinen, and Caleb Wurth.
The 6th Grade Band took to their seats and played “Brownie’s March”. (Yes, Brownies do march!) They concluded with “Imperium”. 6th Grade Band members are: Anna Arduini, Adelynn Ruskamp, and Tori Treinen (Flutes). Rachel Doellinger, Izabella Hodgins, Bailey Ross and Ashley Wetter (Clarinets). Isaac Astidias, Macey Heubrock, Thomas McKinney, and Aiden Shea (Trumpets). Charles Easton and Owen Lennon (Trombones). Gunnar Durkee (Baritone) and Nolan Carver (Tuba). Behr Carey, Ayden Miller, Cody Schmillen, Mick Schnepf, and Peter Stevick (Percussion).
The 7th and 8th Grade Choir sang, “Sisi Ni Moja” with Ms. Davis on a bongo drum in the background. Ms. DeVos presented members with awards and recognitions after they finished singing.
7th and 8th Grade Choir members are: Paula Bautista, Kamden Bork, Emma Erickson, Lana Florine, Lauren Galles, Alexis Gotto, Riley Groves, Destiny Gunsolly, Mason Hill, Aaron Letsche, Isabella Loutsch, Christian Lowden, Aleah Lux, Brielle lux, Katie merry field, Brea Nicks, Alyvia Olson, Ava Prescott, Allissa Rupp, Gracie Schroeder, Brianna Schuetz, Joenson Stephen, Dylan Stevens, Tia Tentinger, Tessa Weiler, and Sadie Youde.
The 7th and 8th Grades now have a Jazz Band that played for us. This group was GOOD! Hopefully those going into High School will also be in the High School jazz group. They played, “The Funky Monkey” and yes, you could hear a monkey!
The 7th and 8th Grade Band members took the audience to a “Distant Thunder of the Sacred Forest” where in the far distance drums could be heard as well as the shrill sounds of clarinets. From the Sacred Forest, even though there might have been a storm on its way, we were taken right into “Spring”. No program is ever complete unless there is a “March”. “The Golden Eagle March” had the audience tapping their feet in time with the march!
7th -8th Grade Band members are the following and if a * is present behind a name, that means that person is a Middle School Jazz Band member-Chloe Alesch, Eoin Hogg, Aleah Lux, Tapika Nothem, Hayden Oswald, Lukas Peterson, Ava Prescott and Erica Specht playing (Flutes). Maddie Anderson, Aubrey Dirks, Ella Draper, Kaiya Freeman, Annika Juhl, Brea Hicks, Alyvia Olson, and Morgan Rupp* played (Clarinet).
(Saxophones) were Boston Colling, Brayden Dunn, and Dylan Stevens. (Trumpets) players were Luke Kintigh, Tommy Koontz, Jasper Lahouti; Brielle Lux, Elli Molzen; Angel Mu_oz, Joshua Peterson, John Schmillen and Jesse Schneider. (Trombones) players were Carter Astidias, Josh Doellinger; Michael Schmillen and Carsten Schrooten. Rylee Smith* played (Baritone). Mason Carver played (Tuba). Percussion players were Karsen Galles, Cayben Olson, Christopher Rojas* and Gracie Schroeder*. There were 18 from the 7th -8th Band that played in Jazz Band.
The Combine Choirs of 5th -8th took to the risers with “Try Everything”, an appropriate song for this Concert where several new things were tried!
Every good thing eventually comes to an end and so it was with the 5th -8th Combined Band! All grades played their instruments with some using the top of the piano to hold their music while others played in the bottom row of the bleachers_there were that many band players! They concluded with, “Concerto for Crash Cymbals”. Yes, the cymbals were heard! The Comic Soloist, Ms. Mariah Wurth, crashed both cymbals together and not always when Ms. Davis wanted them crashed!
This Concert was not the usual concert as many new things were done. Change can be good as this Concert was!
After the Concert, there were many of the students going into High School having their picture taken with friends that they will leave behind as that group will move into the vacant 8th grade place. All of these students have talent and Tuesday night, they showed it!
The front of the program had a “Tree” with many branches. What was different about this tree? All the leaves were music Cleft signs!