Camdenton Bands - All 1's in Large Ensemble Festival

"Proud, proud, proud", was Mr. Paul Baur's response when the Camdenton Bands' percussion orchestra, concert band, and symphonic band received all 1 ratings in sight reading and performance at the MSHSAA Band Large Ensemble Music Festival on Friday, March 10th at Camdenton High School.

What exactly did it take to have this day of performances go as planned? Obviously days and nights of practices, rehearsals, and drills preceded the performances, but the day was filled with teamwork among staff, students, and parents. As band parents know, band students are multi-faceted. Not only do they participate in music, they typically excel in other areas of academics and service. This led to an interesting three day series of activities among many Camdenton Band students.

On Thursday, March 9, Camdenton Robotics students began competition in St. Louis, MO. On March 10, several of those same students traveled back to Camdenton for the Large Ensemble Festival powered by parents who consistently drive these students to and from events. Other students including one robotics students also had a science research district competition in Springfield, MO Friday morning. While band/robotics/science research parents drove students between events, other band parents set up and ran a concession stand for the Large Ensemble Festival. Band students and staff ran this district Large Ensemble Festival with students completing jobs such as escorting bands between the warm-up room, the sight reading room, and the performance stage. Students also broke down and re-set stage seating according to each band's size and performance needs. The band staff ran the Large Ensemble Festival that hosted bands from schools including Marshfield, Dixon, Buffalo, Lebanon, and Waynesville. Great student performers and directors from across the district performed at their best levels.

Many Camdenton students traveled back to St. Louis to complete the robotics competition after final performances that ended around 9 pm on Friday night. The entire event and the three day process of driving, collaborating, competing, playing, working, leading, and learning were a success. All 1's in all areas of competition. Way to go Camdenton Bands.