HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Division I or bust, a musical tale

Editor's note: Here is your chance to tell your story about your your school. If you'd like to join The Gazette's growing list of high school contributors, contact J.R. Ogden at jr.ogden@thegazette.com

By Faith Brehm, Monticello senior

MONTICELLO - It was the day I had been waiting and training for since November.

The day of state solo and ensemble contest for music students across the state of Iowa. It gives music students in high school the chance to show off their individual talents.

This year I was going to receive a Division I rating, the highest, and I wouldn't accept anything less from myself.

Already at 8 in the morning on April 6, students with different instruments and different vocal styles were filing into the school, warming up for their coming events. The Monticello High School gymnasium was alive with sound. Rooms were blocked off as performance centers as judges prepared for a long day.

The day started off well for everyone, Division I and II ratings already being written down on the large announcement boards in the gym. I had seven events to perform throughout the day. Four for choir and three for band, two of which were solos. To say I was nervous is an understatement. It was that band solo that was really weighing me down.

I had been chasing after that Division I rating for three years with my saxophone. Three years of disappointment at seeing a II or even III next to my event when all was said and done. It's my senior year, my last chance, I knew I couldn't let myself down again.

When the afternoon came around, my nerves spiked. I met Janice, my accompanist, just minutes before I was to perform before the judge. Our practice before was short, we just barely ran through the entire song together before it was time to go. I worried as I stood outside the door to my performance center that everything would go wrong. I would miscount my entrances, my fingers would fumble over the long running notes, my saxophone would be out of tune, I'd run out of energy before the end of the song, and completely botch the entire ending.

When I stepped into the performance center, I couldn't stop shaking. Both my band directors were there in the audience, right up front. My judge mentioned that the song I had chosen to play was one he enjoyed - making me even more nervous. I hoped I would be able to play it well enough for him.

The piano part started, and I took a deep breath to calm myself down. The song began and the momentum picked up. My nervousness began to flake away as I easily slid my fingers through the first few runs. Before I knew it, the song was over, complete. I'd lost myself in the music somewhere along the way.

I waited avidly in the gym for my rating. Center Five, Monticello, my eyes were practically glued to that one line. Finally, finally, someone came to post the next set of rating. I almost couldn't watch, that nervousness having come back.

And there it was, printed bold. "I." I nearly cried. Three years - three years of dedication, of struggle - and I'd finally reached it. My Division I.