Schools

OCMS Bands Fare Well at Performance Evaluation

The symphonic band earned straight superior marks in all categories and the concert band achieved all excellent marks at the Georgia Music Educators Association's district evaluation on March 24-25.

The symphonic and concert bands could rival most area high school bands, if the level of difficulty they perform at during a Large Group Performance Evaluation is any indication.

Both bands again did very well at the recent evaluations, held at East Jackson High School on March 24-25.

Over the course of the two days, nearly 40 bands from the Georgia Music Educators Association's district participated in the event, Oconee County Middle School band director Bryan Agan said.

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Bands are required to perform 3 pieces; 2 chosen from the required GMEA list arranged by difficulty (1-6, with 6 being the most difficult) and one additional selection, usually a march, he said.

Next the bands have 6 minutes to study a new piece for the sight-reading portion of the evaluation.  During that time, they can prepare in any way the director wishes, except by actually playing a note, Agan said.  That piece is then also judged.

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The OCMS symphonic band, comprised of 54 students, performed at a level 4, earning an 'A' in every category and straight superior marks --known as 1s-- for the 10th year in a row, Agan said.  The band also received a superior rating in sight-reading.

One highlight was Megan Morris' "flawless" flute solo in the famous Amparito Roca by Jaime Texidor, Agan said.

The school's concert band also did well.  The 62 musicians achieved all excellent marks, including in the sight-reading category, playing at a difficulty level 3 -- the first time the band has ever attempted that level, said Agan.

"I'm very proud," he said. "That group is growing and getting really, really good."

That may sound like quite an achievement in itself, but factor in that high school bands on average select a 3-4 difficulty range, and OCMS students really standout, said Agan.

"The whole point is for students to get better in the process of learning music at extremely high levels," he said. "The fantastic ratings are icing on the cake."

Also noteworthy, there are 9 students who perform with both ensembles.  They are district honor band members that play their first instrument in symphonic band and then switch to play a second instrument in concert band, Agan explained.

"For example, we've got an All State clarinet player that switches to trombone," he said.

Success involves teamwork and solo practice.

"It takes a lot of work, both individually and as a group," Agan said.

Next up for the Oconee County Middle School bands is a multistate performance evaluation at the Carowinds Festival of Music in North Carolina April 8-10.


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