On March 7, music teacher Mark Dahl will host the Junior High Solo Festival event for students in grades fifth through eighth who are currently in the band and orchestra at their respective schools. Despite canceling the event last year due to SC construction, approximately 500 to 600 students will participate this year, Dahl said.

“Students who have stood out to me are those who have practiced enough at home to try to memorize their solos,” Orchestra Director Hannah Andrews said. 

McClure Junior High School will have students participating in the Junior High Solo Festival, and Andrews has been teaching there since 2022. Furthermore, she has been an orchestra director since 2018. Andrews said the festival is supposed to challenge students and help them develop their instrumental skills. 

“I wanted to be an orchestra director to help students improve on their instruments but also to help students become well-rounded individuals who can approach challenges with tools,” Andrews said.

The junior high festival not only accepts orchestra students, but they also serve band students. Band Director Nancy Flanagan has been teaching for over 23 years at Park Jr. High, and she mainly works with students who are performing at the festival for the first time. 

“Seeing them come out of their performance rooms smiling and relieved is just grand,” Flanagan said. “Performing a solo or small ensemble is a huge step for these young students.”

Despite students having their band or orchestra teacher to help them, on the day of the event, the students are either by themselves or part of a small group. Initially, students can warm up and tune their instruments in a quiet hallway. This helps students feel prepared and minimizes distractions for others performing. When the students are called in to perform in front of the judges, the judges will ask the students to play the musical scale. Afterward, the students will play their piece while the judges write down comments. Once the students finish playing, they are free to leave. 

“[The Junior High Solo Festival] allows the students to perform and receive feedback on how they can improve as a student musician,” Dahl said.