Written by Beth Farrar, SMT Writer
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - The annual Three Rivers College District Music Festival took place on Thursday and Friday (March 21st-22nd) and nearly two thousand students competed in several different categories including: choir, piano, percussion ensemble, sight reading, brass, woodwinds, band, vocals, and solos. Seventeen different choirs competed along with fifteen high school bands. High schools from all over Missouri traveled to compete for a chance to get to the State Competition if they received a superior rating (1).
The students that arrived on Friday morning were from all over Southeast Missouri and so were the judges. The judges that were chosen for this event were drawn from Missouri and Arkansas in places such as Little Rock, St. Louis, and even Cape Girardeau. The event is sponsored by the Missouri State High School Activities Association and to allow the competition to run smoothly, many college students at Three Rivers stepped up and helped manage the stage, help the judges, and guide people and groups towards the next competition.
Due to the many students and competitors, there were multiple rooms and competitions going on at once. Each floor of the Tinnin Fine Arts Center was occupied by a different category of competitions. Although it was an all day event, the day seemed to run quickly and efficiently and each performer or group of performers had their chance to compete due to the very organized scheduling done by the college and judges.
Richland High School was among the many performers, including: Twin Rivers, Neelyville, Malden, New Madrid, Dexter, Bloomfield, Poplar Bluff, and Kennett. Richland, lead by Music and Band Director, Amber Duley, entered in multiple competitions such as vocal, piano, two percussion ensembles, two brass solos, and one woodwind solo. The first ensemble to perform included five students, where they performed the song “Scamper” and received an excellent rating (2). The second ensemble also received an excellent rating (2) after seven students performed the song “Flat Baroque”. Freshman Jamie Smith competed in a woodwind solo and junior Tristan Wamble competed in a brass solo, where they both received a 3 rating.
Dexter High School also traveled and performed at Poplar Bluff and made an incredible impression in all different areas, including both choir and band performances. The high school band, lead by Scott Rybolt, recently competed in the Jazz SIU Festival in Carbondale and won the “Best Section Award” in all of the categories, including: saxes, trombones, trumpets, and rhythm. One of the choir groups received an excellent rating (2) but did not qualify for state. Few students that participated in the competition as a whole will be sent further to the state competition and even a smaller amount will be sent on to nationals.
Congratulations to all of the participants and winners!
