PRESQUE ISLE, ME — The Presque Isle Middle School Jazz Band recently recorded top performances at the State Jazz Festival, held recently at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport.
The band was awarded third place in its division overall, with drummer Katelyn Amero receiving an Outstanding Musician Award. Band Director Patrick Bragdon said despite weather and other challenges, the group came together very well.
“It has been a tough year with 11 out of the 20 [members] being a part of the group for the first time, and many rehearsals cancelled due to the weather,” he said. “We overcame these setbacks and they performed at their best at the competition.”
To help prepare for the state festival, the band played for SAD 1 audiences.
“We performed for each of the three elementary schools and our middle school a few days before the competition,” Bragdon explained. “This was a great experience to get ready to perform in front of three judges a few days later.”
The band came in third in Division 2; there are four divisions.
In addition to the band prizes, judges give five Outstanding Musician Awards.
“The judges who judge all the bands in a division have five awards to present,” said Bragdon. “The judges talk among themselves and decide which five show the most musical talent. It does help to have a well-played solo.”
Amero, who lives in Mapleton, was awarded one of these honors at the festival, a recognition that Presque Isle hasn’t seen for some time.
“It has been five years since someone from Presque Isle has received this,” noted Bragdon. “She is also the only drummer that has received it in the past 14 years I have been here.”
Members of the Presque Isle High School Jazz Band include the following:
On saxophones: Hana Boucher, Ian MacKinnon, Alison Sweetser, Jude Mosher and Riley Roderick.
Trumpets: Ricky Goupille, Alec Staples, Joe Michaud, Brenna Morneau, Sidney Smith and Clint Goheen.
Trombones: Jacob Foster, Connor Albertson, Wilson Saucier and Ben Flannery.
Bass guitars: Preston Gibson and Holden Stoutamyer.
Piano: Matt Hedrich.
Drums: Katelyn Amero and Ethan Shaw.
Selections played at the festival included “Off the Beaten Path,” featuring Amero on drums; “Open Arms” and “Fiesta del Tigre.” Soloists were Roderick, Goupille, Staples, Michaud and Foster.
