WMS Advanced Band earns Division l rating

The Washington Middle School Advanced Band earned a Division I rating at the Southeast Iowa Bandmasters Association (SEIBA) JH/MS Large Group Festival held at Solon Middle School Friday, April 1. The band performed three pieces: Welcome arr. by Larry Clark; Dorian Dreamscape by Robert Sheldon, and Arabian Dances by Roland Barrett. At the conclusion of their performance, Chris Copeland (West Branch MS Band director) worked with the band in a 15 minute miniclinic. The band also received written and verbal comments from three judges during their performance.

The Band received scores of 33 (I+), 32 (I) and 31 (I). The MS Advanced Band has 70 members (30-8th graders, 35 seventh graders, and five sixthgraders) is directed by Craig McClenahan.

The SEIBA Large Group Festival is open to all middle school and junior high bands in the Southeast District. Bands receive ratings based on their performance from three judges who score 0-5 points for each of the following seven categories: tone (beauty, blend, control), intonation (melodic line, chords, tutti), technique (articulation, facility, precision, rhythm), balance (ensemble, sectional), interpretation (expression, phrasing, style, tempo), musical effect (artistry, fluency) and other factors (appearance, discipline, instrumentation, selections).

I+ equals 33-35 points, I equlas 30-32, I- equals 27-29, II+ equals 24-26, II equals 20-23, II- equals 17-19, III equals 16 points and below.