The Bulldog Beat

State Solo & Ensemble: Dedication + Talent = Success

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Alexandra Baylis, Arts and Entertainment Writer
April 26, 2012
Filed under Arts & Entertainment

The feeling of accomplishment is one that is nearly impossible to describe, and success is something that needs to be noted.  Saturday, April 14, ten of Ionia High School’s students went to State Solo & Ensemble at East Kentwood High School, in Grand Rapids. This is an honorable accomplishment for solo singers because they had to qualify for state at Districts first, back in February. 

At State Solo & Ensemble students have a third piece added to their performance, but they get to get rid of another. They have to sight read on their own at State. One of their pieces also has to be in a foreign language. For each student it takes at least four months of hard work to prepare them to get to the State level.  They have a lesson once a week to practice and then they have to practice nearly every day of the week as well. 

“It is an honor to make it to State consecutively, like Ionia has.” Mrs. Scheller proudly said this when asked about State last week. “I am worried because I want the kids to find a new attitude for the repeat songs they have to do and it gets harder and harder at State each year.” These were Mrs. Scheller’s feelings headed into State on Friday, but it seems as if they were unnecessary worries because five students came out with one’s at State, with one being the best score. (Savannah Curtis, Zack Curtis, Emily Gerdes, Courtney Burgess, and Alexandra Allen). The other five came home with respectable two’s (Caleb Greene, Emily Nemeth, Hannah Kusmierz, Mackenzie Carrera, and Ami Stauffer).

All around last Saturday was a great day for all of the high school students that were a part of State Solo & Ensemble and all of them have reason to be proud, because even making it to State to begin with is no easy task. We all should be proud to have such talent representing Ionia High School.