North Cedar excels in music

STANWOOD - North Cedar's music department has students from choir, band and jazz band that compete in competitions throughout the school year.

Each ensemble has students who excel in their musical abilities and receive honors. Attendees of these festivals are more motivated to perform at higher levels and set examples for the rest of group.

All choir students work hard in choir, but certain choir students work more outside of the normal fifth-period rehearsal with Peter Fourniea and have gone on to compete in some very tough competitions, such as All State and Dorian Music Festival. Others have been chosen by their great voices to represent North Cedar in honor choirs such as Meistersinger Choir Festival, held at Wartburg College. The following students attended the River Valley Conference honor choir: Ivy Spitzer, Kylea Jackson, Elizabeth Scheer, Carissa Wachendorf, Clayton Juhl, Dane Shaull, Bright-on Rouse, Trevor Kanakares, Cory Dundee and Jason Hansen. Five students were selected to go to the Dorian Music Festival at Luther College in Decorah: Ivy Spitzer, Carissa Wachendorf, Dane Shaull, Trevor Kanakares and Clayton Juhl. Juniors Cory Dundee and Carissa Wachendorf traveled to Wartburg College for the Meistersinger Honor College. Six students were selected to go to the University of Iowa Honor choir, but did not attend due to bad weather.

Melanie Wulfekuhle, high school band director, takes many of her students to various competitions and select honor bands throughout the year, as well. Freshman trumpet player Pavin Esbaum tried out for All-State and a few months later went with fellow freshman, trumpeter Makayla Schluter and flute player Carly Montz, to the South East Bandmasters Association (SEIBA) Honor Band Auditions. Esbaum was the first student from the high school to make the honor band in a long time and Montz was the first flute player to represent North Cedar at the junior high or high school level. Shelby Alexander, Christina Foister, Amber Kelsy, Ethan St. John and Esbaum attended the St. Ambrose Honor Band. The following students spent two days on the Wartburg campus for Meistersinger Band Festival: freshmen St. John, Amber Kelsy, Christina Foister, Jasmine Doty, Esbaum and Schluter.

Along with doing concert band, some students also participate in jazz band. Jazz band members include Rachel Heinen, drums; Ivy Spitzer, bass; Shelby Alexander, saxophone; Christina Foister, clarinet; Katelyn Leeper, trombone; Dane Shaull, trombone; and trumpet players Pavin Esbaum, Ethan St. John, and Makayla Schluter. With only two rehearsals a week, the band already has received a Division 2 rating at the State Jazz Festival at Clear Creek Amana.

”They have worked extremely hard and put in a lot of time to have a great sound,” said Melanie Wulfekuhle, the director of bands.

Music is a talent students can never lose. These students are proof the music department is alive and flourishing.