February 2022
Top Stories
Editor: Izzy Rutherford
Heckman: Rare MMEA performance an 'exceptional process'
After years of working towards his goal, band director Mr. Brad Heckman has finally accomplished one of the biggest items on his bucket list. In July, he discovered the band was selected to play at the 2022 Missouri Music Educators Association conference (MMEA).
Following their highly successful marching season, Mr. Heckman started getting the band ready for their performance. With an evening and/or weekend rehearsal scheduled nearly every week, students were busy at work. At each practice, Mr. Heckman invited other music educators to critique the band. During rehearsals, Mr. Heckman often audio recorded the band to help the students hear what they haven’t been able to hear and listen to themselves.
After being accepted, Mr. Heckman asked his co-director, Mr. Joey Carter, to write a piece for the performance. Mr. Carter calls this piece “Countdown!” The music counts down via time signatures, starting in 5/4, and working down to 2/4. As musicians go through the piece, it turns into the musical form of anxiety and anticipation, described with exciting tempos and tones, leading up to the performance.
Mr. Heckman explains that the pair went through hundreds of pieces before picking their final few. Their second tune, “Concert Variations” by Claude T. Smith, with flute soloist Darrah Dickinson and French horn soloist Braiden Mills, was basically a “no-brainer” for the group. The piece premiered at the MMEA conference in 1976 by Jefferson City High School band. Although there will be a select few who don’t, almost every musician in the audience at the band’s performance will know this piece.
Their other tunes include “America Exultant” by Henry Fillmore (arranged by Andrew Glover), “Over Great Waves and Far Away” by Yo Goto with flute soloist Matvey Rotsevenkov, and “Chopsticks” by Charles Owen (arranged by Ralph Hicks) with xylophone soloist Ryan Heckman.
Mr. Heckman says, “It has been an exceptional process with this group of kids. These kids are, for sure, the right kids to go. It’s not all been easy, but it’s all been worth it.”
Click here to read the band’s program and learn more about the performance.
On Wednesday, January 26, before their departure, the band hosted a send-off concert for the student body during EXCEL.
Despite negative virtual learning experiences, students largely favor school closure during local COVID spike
In a recent poll regarding the spike in coronavirus numbers, the Green & White Review received opinions from students and teachers. After seeing surrounding schools shut their doors temporarily, many MVHS students believe a temporary closing would be good for the school. It would slow the spread of the disease and keep not only students and teachers healthy, but protect their families as well.
Unfortunately, many students did not have a good experience with virtual learning. Many respondents said it was hard, or that learning in person was much easier. When asked, 70% of respondents said that they would not be interested in another COVID-19 vaccine event hosted by the school, while 18% said yes, and 12% said maybe.
The rise in cases has caused the Mount Vernon show choir competition, cheer competition, and many other events to be canceled or postponed.