SSHS Musicians Participate in UM All-Star Wind Ensembles

SEELEY LAKE – Three Seeley-Swan High School (SSHS) band students participated in the University of Montana (UM) All-Star Wind Ensemble Nov. 11-13. Seniors Tessa Grimes and Trinitey Bartlett and freshman Jayla Kauffman each said the opportunity to play with other musicians with more experience has made them better players.

SSHS Music Director Kaytee Ambrozich said seven students applied for the All-Star Wind Ensembles. Three were chosen based on their level and need for the band. SSHS paid for the students to attend the three-day event.

High school students came from states across the west, mid-west and Canada to play in the Silver or Maroon Bands and the string orchestra. Parker Bixby from Mercer Island High School, from Mercer Island, Wash. conducted the Silver Band and James Smart conducted the Maroon Band.

Students were expected to learn their parts before arriving Friday, Nov. 11. Kauffman said she began practicing two weeks prior to learn her trombone parts for the five songs. She said they had 12 hours of rehearsal, starting Friday afternoon through Sunday morning, before their concert Sunday afternoon.

"My face hurts still," said Kauffman smiling.

For Kauffman it was an opportunity to get better. In the SSHS band, Kauffman is the only trombone player. In the Silver band, Kauffman was with five other trombonists.

"I actually got to play with other people who play my instrument and who like band as much as I do," said Kauffman. "It was pretty cool to work with a teacher who had actually played trombone for most of his/her life, was really good at coaching and have one-on-one time with them."

Grimes said this was her first time attending anything like this. She said it helped make her a better clarinet player and confirmed her goal to major or minor in music in college.

"It was definitely impressive. I've never been with a band that big. I had a backup and if you made a mistake it wasn't all eyes on you," said Grimes who was one of 14 clarinet players in the Silver Band.

Grimes and Kauffman said they learned more about dynamics, forming the music to make it more musical and timing. Grimes enjoyed the opportunity to have other people hear how she pays.

Bartlett has attended the UM Summer Band camp but this was her first time playing in the All-Star Band. She was the only musician from SSHS in the Maroon Band.

Bartlett said this experience was more rigorous than the summer camp. The amount of rehearsal time and difficultly of the music was challenging.

"That music was incredible," said Bartlett. "One of the songs was all sixteenth notes and one song had 89 tempo changes. It was just crazy."

Bartlett said the band was very different than what she was used to playing with the SSHS band.

"There were almost as many flutes as there are [total members] in the SSHS band," said Bartlett. "Then there was a bunch of French Horns, seventeen trumpets, it was insane. It was a really different sound. It was really full and powerful. It was just so much more. Having people with more experience around you and having a new conductor you pick up on new things and learn how to keep tempo differently."

Bartlett was impressed that the other students did not keep time with their foot. They were able to keep the beat mentally.

"It was a really cool opportunity for them," said Ambrozich. She thought it was great that the students brought back information that they learned and shared it with the rest of the band.

"I've been really lucky to have the experience that I've had," said Bartlett who appreciated the school's financial support. "I wouldn't have gotten to do a lot of these things without our school."

Grimes said she is thankful for all the time, dedication and work Ambrozich does for the band program and individual students. "She helps make us better."