The 60-plus members of the Cook County High School Viking Band traveled to Marshall School on March 22 to compete in the Subsection Music Contest Festival at Marshall School. One of the judges commented, “Your confidence as a band shows through”—as it does in the photo taken at the high school on a sunny April 1. Congratulations Viking Band!
On March 19, Cook County High School band director Bill Tormondsen and a select group of students traveled to the University of Minnesota Duluth to participate in the Minnesota High School League Solo/Ensemble Competition. There were many other schools represented, from all over the Northland.
Soloists and ensemble groups were given a score out of 40, graded on such performance factors as tone quality, intonation, technique, and musicianship. Those with Superior ratings (35-40 points) move on to the State competition in April. There were five soloists representing Cook County at the contest. Jordyn Kirk received an Excellent rating. Haley Ruhanan’s tuba solo, Katrina Axtell’s and Ailee Larson’s flute solos and Will Brandenburg’s clarinet solo all received Superior ratings.
Five Cook County ensembles were also judged at the event. The saxophone quartet of Karl Ingebrigtsen, Bekah Laky, Jordyn Kirk, and Adrianna Berglund received a Superior rating, as did Ben Seaton, Karlee Axtell, and Colin Everson for their French horn trio. Alec Muhich, Will Brandenburg, and Luke Fenwick’s clarinet trio and the clarinet quartet of Mara MacDonell, Sarissa Falk, Rachel Wieben and Lexie Palmer were awarded the same ranking, as were Katrina Axtell, Molly Rider and Ailee Larson for their flute trio. All will move on to the next level of competition.
The soloists would like to extend special thanks to Stacey Hawkins for providing piano accompaniment.
The entire high school band traveled to Marshall School on March 22 to compete in the Subsection Music Contest Festival at Marshall School.
The selections directed by Mr. Tormondsen for the contest included Into the Raging River
by Steven Reineke and Rumble on the High Plains
by Michael Sweeney. Three judges scored the band, and all gave the pieces “Superior” ratings, awarding scores of 36, 36, and 39.
The judges’ comments included: “Musical approach was excellent,” “Excellent performances on very difficult numbers,” and “Your confidence as a band shows through.”
The CCHS band received a certificate of achievement from the Minnesota High School League and will move on to the State competition in April.
The public is invited to hear all of these excellent musicians at the Spring Band Concert, which will be held on May 19 in the Cook County High School gymnasium.
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