2004 WSMA State Solo & Enslemble Festival at UW Oshkosh

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Appleton Post-Crescent

Posted Apr. 25, 2004

http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent/news/archive/local_15829655.shtml

 

 

Jessica McGinnis, 18, of Winneconne practices a Bach sonata on her flute Saturday in the stairwell of the Arts and Communication Building at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh during the State Solo and Ensemble contest. Post-Crescent photo by Kirk Wagner

 

 

State Music Festival

 

ï Participants: More than 35,000 student musicians statewide in grades 6-12 performing in 178 instrumental and vocal solo and ensemble categories. UWO participants included students from Appleton, Brillion, Chilton, Kaukauna, Kimberly, Menasha, Neenah, New Holstein, New London, Shiocton, Stockbridge and Winneconne school districts, Fox Valley Lutheran, St. Mary Central and Xavier high schools.

 

ï State qualifiers: Students who earned a ìstarred firstî rating in Class A (the most difficult music) at more than 225 WSMA district qualifying festivals hosted by schools.

 

ï How it works: Student musician performs selected piece for judge, who critiques performance and awards first- through fifth-place rating.

 

ï On the Web: www.wsmamusic.org" www.wsmamusic.org .

 

 

Young musicians rise to statewide challenge

By Kathy Walsh Nufer

Post-Crescent staff writer

 

OSHKOSH ó High school musicians bustled across the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh campus early Saturday, hurrying to their annual rite of spring ó the State Solo and Ensemble contest.

 

Lugging tubas and cellos, violins, piccolos and show choir costumes, the competitors descended on campus by the thousands, all there to put their best instrumental skills and vocal hearts and souls on the line for judges.

 

Jessica McGinnis, who is home-schooled but takes choir and band at Winneconne High School, arrived at 7:30 a.m. to start warming up for her six flute, piano and vocal events.

 

ìPeople are nervous ó you can cut the tension with a knife,î McGinnis said. ìBut itís fun, too, because it pushes you to higher levels of music and performance. This is the day of the year I (show) why I do this.î

 

The State Music Festival, which draws 35,000 participants to nine college campuses each spring, is a big deal, said Tom Walter, Menasha High School choir director, as he navigated the crush of parents, contestants, teachers and accompanists overflowing UWOís Arts and Communications Center.

 

ìThis is the highest level for their performance,î Walter said, preparing to spend the day watching his students perform as well as daughter Alexandria, a member of Appleton East High Schoolís pop string ensemble.

 

ìDeep down, kids will say this is what they work for. Football has state finals. Basketball players go to championships. This is the closest analogy for student musicians.î

 

ìBut here youíre not competing against other schools, youíre just competing against yourself,î said trombonist Lexi Verstegen, Kimberly High School senior and future music major.

 

Verstegen, who performed a duet with baritone player Ben Phelan, (they have played together since sixth grade), said she improves every year, ìPlus, every year the pieces get harder with a different challenge to overcome.î

 

ìThat was pretty good,î said a satisfied Phelan, as the two finished this yearís duet. Phelan relishes every time he qualifies for state. ìItís another chance to work up a good piece of music and show off what you worked for,î he said.

 

Verstegen said she also enjoys listening to other talented musicians. ìI like to see how other kids work, and they give you a variety of different interpretations.î

 

Steph Doepker, an Appleton East grad and UWO music education major, volunteered at Saturdayís festival and could relate to the emotions ó relief, jubilation, disappointment ó she saw on musiciansí faces as they emerged from the performance rooms after hearing judgesí critiques.

 

She recalled her own ìnerve-wrackingî trips to state, including a nomination for outstanding French horn solo, and said the experience was a great foundation for her career.

 

McGinnis, who managed to conquer both nerves and laryngitis Saturday, said she doesnít plan a music career but music will always be an important part of her life.

 

Will she miss state? ìNot right now,î she said getting down to the business of warming up for a piano duet with her sister Jackie, 16, ìBut I probably will when this is over.î

 

Kathy Walsh Nufer can be reached at 920-993-1000, ext. 290, or by email at knufer@ postcrescent.com