Music Department News

On Saturday, March 23, Tri-M Members held their 4th Annual Telethon and Silent Auction event. For two hours, viewers of the Live event were treated to performances from the NCHS Jazz Band, live solo and ensemble performances, and recorded performances from The Little Mermaid and Winter Drumline. Five students also worked with Mrs. Goostree to promote the sale of items for the silent auction. This year's funds will be used for the purchase of steel drums, which you will see for the first time this fall during the marching show.

Isaac Wrszenski performed his solo 70 Studies for BBb Tuba #32

Jazz Band opened the telethon with Glenn Miller's In the Mood 

Rocking Eye of the Tiger.

The River-to-River Conference is a festival that involves both sides of the athletic / academic conference. Each band director nominates students for their bands, and one director puts the final band together based on the nominations.  Students selected become part of a concert band or jazz band. They rehearse the entire day as a new ensemble and perform a concert for friends and family in the evening at Shryock Auditorium on the campus of SIUC. 

River-to-River Concert Band (above) and Jazz Band (below)

NCHS Musicians Tanner Brooks, Landan Pierce, Quentin Pedtke, Chloe Maschhoff, Addison Browne, Lainey Fletcher, Hailee Grzegorek, Trinity Engelmann, Isaac Wrzesinski, Jaylin Stofferhan, Robin Habeck, Arleth Rojas.

Chloe Maschhoff gets a round of applause for playing a solo in the concert.

NCHS musicians work throughout the calendar year on music for a myriad of reasons, including community and national performances, individual and group competitions, and musical productions.  Through these performances and events, their talents are showcased tremendously.  NCHS musicians, however, have figured out a way to not only demonstrate their talents but to share their love and talents with younger community members.  Music director Mr. Browne shared about the NCHS After School Music Program, which was started in 2022 and was designed because "[m]usic education in Washington County is at an all time low in regards to the schools offering music education."  The program, which initially invited students from St. Ann and Trinity St. John - Nashville school to join with high school students, Mr. Browne explains, "was originally conceived to try to give kids who were not getting music in school an opportunity to learn a wind instrument.  We have succeeded in doing so for a couple of schools."  Just this week of 1/29/24, Mr. Browne has sent out letters inviting students from additional feeder schools, including Ashley, Oakdale, and Trinity Lutheran - Hoyleton to join the program as well for next year.   Looking toward the future, Mr. Browne concluded: "We have loved this program for the last two school years [and] hope we can expand to meet the needs of others." 

NCHS musician Ethan San Juan (alto saxophone - above) shared, "What definitely gets me interested in teaching after school lessons is the fact that these students have had little experience with their instrument. It's a great honor to be the one to get them into music and spark their interests. After speaking with Mr. Browne about my future in college, he had also suggested that I take a few years of music education before getting a degree in music performance, so exposure to teaching others prior to attending college will be most beneficial. As a section leader representing the alto saxophones, I also bear the responsibility to assist the underclassmen and occasionally the older people in my section in regular school days. One of the greatest memories that I had during my time teaching lessons is when all of the instrumental sections come together to play. After we got to work on our song, "Bees" by Randall Standridge, Mr. Browne pulled all of us together and said that he feels that it is no longer necessary to treat the students as beginners but as a real band. Those words could not have been truer, as each time I hear them play, I am very impressed considering that a few months ago, they were still learning how to finger their first five notes.  I have also heard of how Nashville's influence for aspiring musicians will be extended to places outside of our own town now. Schools that have fed into our high school will soon be offered the same opportunity as the St. Ann students that we teach today. I look forward to this greatly as I still have one more year to be teaching others."

NCHS musician Madison Haege (euphonium - above) shared, "Being in this ensemble has been such a wonderful experience! Seeing everyone light up when they finally get a hard part in the music or finally get that note they've been trying to get is so incredible and I'll never forget it. These kids have so much passion for music and I am proud to have been a part of their journey!"

NCHS musician Robin Habeck (trombone - above) shared, "I look forward to every Wednesday because the kid I teach lights up with joy when playing her trombone. I got to witness her being able to play and understand her music without writing in her notes, and I am so incredibly proud of the progress she has made. Learning an instrument is definitely not easy work, and I am glad to be able to aid her in every step of the way. Being in a band is a special kind of connection! "

Photo Credit:  Mrs. Goostree

NCHS musician Addison Browne (French horn - above) shared, "I love teaching the kids because I enjoy seeing them learn new music. I enjoy seeing them get new music and be excited to play more because they absolutely love it."

NCHS musician Isaac Wrzensinski (euphonium - above) shared, "It has been great being in an ensemble full of kids who are so eager to learn and passionate about what they're doing. I am so proud of the progress that they have made this year. I have noticed everyone improve significantly and I can tell that they are all going to be fantastic musicians when they get into high school." 

NCHS Musician Trinity Engelman (clarinet - above) shared, "I love seeing the joy in the kids’ eyes when they walk through the band room door. The kids are so devoted, kind, and overall amazing and teaching them makes me excited for the future and how they will progress. The kids do not back down whenever they get new and more difficult music and it reminds me of when I was first learning music. I love being able to pass down what I have learned to people who share the same passion as me and that is why I help with the kids."

NCHS musician Arleth Palacio Rojas (clarinet - above) shared, "It made me feel really good not only for myself, but for the kid too. I feel like I definitely made them improve and got them to understand what I was trying to say. It’s been really nice to spend the time teaching them. It’s also very reminiscent of myself when I began on my instrument as well. Very fond memories."

NCHS Musician Jaylin Stofferahn (flute - above) shared, "I really love being able to share something I love with a new generation. The kid I teach has made so much progress over the school year and it makes me happy to see her journey as a musician."