CGS band and chorus compete at IGSMA Organizational Contest

<span>CARBONDALE -- The Chester Grade School Band and Chorus traveled to Carbondale on March 20 to compete in the IGSMA (Illinois Grade School Music Association) Organizational Contest. Both groups performed very well with the Junior High Band earning a "Superior" rating and the Junior High Chorus earning an "Excellent" rating. </span>

<span>The organizational contest features the entire band or entire chorus for a particular junior high music program. Each band or chorus performs two or three musical selections for a panel of three judges.</span>

<span>Chester competed in the Class C or Large Group category.</span>

<span>"I thought the kids did a really great job," said Zeb Holder, CGS Vocal Music Director. "Two of the judges apparently thought so too since they awarded us with 'Superior' ratings.</span>

<span>I'm not quite sure what the other judge did not like about our performance to only award us with a rating of 'good.' Oh well, I am very proud of our vocal students and I think they did fantastic."</span>

<span>Judges rate the entire band or chorus based upon eight criteria. Those criteria include Tone Quality; Intonation; Rhythm; Balance and Blend; Technique; Interpretation; Diction; and "Other Performance Factors."</span>

<span>A "Superior" rating is the highest rating possible. An "Excellent" rating is very good with only a few minor defects. A "Good" ratings indicate "good" performance, but lacking finesse and/or interpretation.</span>

<span>A "Fair" performance has several basic weaknesses.</span>

<span>The three judges rate each band or chorus independently, and all three scores or ratings are averaged to create one overall rating. The maximum number of points that can be awarded by a judge is 40 points</span>

<span>The CGS Band earned an overall rating of "Superior." Judge 1 awarded a score of 38 points. Judge 2 awarded 39 points out of a possible 40 points, while Judge 3 awarded 39 points. </span>

<span>The band performed three selections including, "American Heroes March," "Hope Everlasting," and "Mustangs -The Spirit of the West."</span>

<span>"I was very pleased with our performance," said CGS Band Director Sue Colonel."Usually I leave the director's podium second-guessing myself and critiquing the performance, but I felt satisfied with their performance as I walked away.</span>

<span>"I am very proud of my musicians tonight."</span>

<span>The CGS Junior High Choir also did very well. They sang three songs for the competition including, "Orange Blossom Special," Little Innocent Lamb" and "The Moon." </span>

<span>The chorus earned an overall rating of "Excellent." Judge 1 awarded a rating of "Superior" with 38 out of a possible 40 points.</span>

<span>Judge 2 awarded a rating of "Good" with 24 points out of a possible 40 points. Lastly, Judge 3 awarded a rating of "Superior" with 38 out of 40 points.</span>