Music festival will test students and staff

Whitefish High School has participated in District Music Festival for 50 years. This year, it will be hosted by Whitefish Middle School on April 15-17.

The District Music Festival provides opportunities for students across Montana to refine a musical piece, perform and receive adjudication. Students are able to participate in vocal, instrumental and ensemble performances.

Jenanne Solberg, orchestra instructor for the middle and high school, is heavily involved in "orchestrating" the annual festival, along with choir and band directors Nicole Sanford and Mark McCrady.

"District Music Festivals are occurring all across the state during this time and are Montana High School Association events," Solberg said. "All schools with music programs are actually required to participate in them, and students in those programs are mandated to perform in their large ensembles."

Whitefish will be represented by 150 music students this year. A total of 1,200 students from the nine high schools participate annually, including Eureka, Troy, Libby, Glacier, Flathead, Bigfork, Polson and Columbia Falls.

Piano events begin on Thursday, April 15, at North Valley Music School, while bands, choirs and orchestras begin that night and continue throughout Friday. Vocal and instrumental solo and ensemble events begin on Friday and conclude on Saturday evening.

Students learn what Solberg calls "the power of one minute." Students have a 15-minute window to give their very best performance to an audience and the adjudicator, a complete stranger who is assessing the quality of the performance.

"That adjudicator has just a handful of minutes to find 'the pearl' in each performance and to give the student enough information in order that he or she can polish that pearl into a real gem to take home," Solberg said. "There are no winners and losers at festival, just musicians who are always improving their art."

Pianist and violist Breanna Barnes will perform three solos — on piano, violin and viola — and is in three ensembles.

"The festival is a great way for musicians to share their talents and their individuality," she said.

Senior Tyler Schiff will play "Legend" by Ehesco on his trumpet, a professional-level piece.

"I have received superior ratings before, and I just hope I can pull through with this very tough piece this year," he said. "I look forward to listening to other students' solos and other ensembles."

Josh Weaver, who will perform four songs as a part of the high school choir, said the festival will really help him as a singer.

"The advice the adjudicators give is professional and helps me as well as everyone else to grow as a musician," he said.

The District Music Festival requires much preparation. Adjudicator housing, meals and transportation must be organized, as well as directors, chaperones, accompanists, caterers, pianos, chairs, risers and microphones.

"It takes months and months, and mountains of paperwork," Solberg said. "We have approximately 150 volunteers giving several hours of their time to see that the festival runs smoothly. The faculty and staff at Whitefish Middle School have been very helpful and accommodating in helping us plan for this event in the facility."

Despite the workload, Solberg said she's looking forward to the festival.

"I look forward to it every year, but sometimes I'm just as nervous as the students," she said. "You see, the teachers are being adjudicated as well. Did we prepare our students properly? Did we select good literature? Did we train them appropriately in the art of performance? All these things are called into account."

Nerves aside, the festival is a special event for every music student.

"Getting feedback is awesome to better myself as a cellist," Lydia Sykora said. "District is a place where local musicians can better themselves in every aspect of music."