Written by
Erin Lauters, Student Writer SMT
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Senior High School Jazz Cats traveled to MAC on March 1, 2014. The Cats gathered at the school eager to go on this annual trip. The Dexter Senior High School Jazz Cats played almost as soon as they got off the bus on Saturday.
They then listened to other bands and had a pizza break. After that, at noon, the clinician Roger Ingram, a trumpet player shared tips at a master class. After delivering a few inspiring facts about a career in music, he dismissed and the bands got started.
The Dexter T.S. Hill Middle School Jazz Cats played. The awards came shortly after, and the Middle School got first place, and the High School got third place. Following the awards, a concert took place featuring the clinician on lead trumpet.
Written by
Erin Lauters, Student Writer SMT
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Middle School Band performed in the middle school gym on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. The members of both the Dexter Middle School seventh and eighth grade bands were excited to perform as this music brought some songs the parents would know and brought Spring along with them.
The first song, conducted by Mr. Wade was "Y.M.C.A.". As the crowd shuffled in their seats eager to move but too embarrass to try, the sign the concert had an enjoyable start was prominent. Following the "Y.M.C.A.", Mr. Wade directed "Locomotion".
Mr. Jinkerson, the new Middle School band director for next year, was excited to conduct his pieces of pop music. He started by saying how excited he was to have received the job for next year and to work with all the children with music in the future.
He conducted "Takin' Care of Business" as well as the always popular "Smoke on the Water". He then let Miss Shupbach take the stand. She is a student teacher from Southeast Missouri State University, who much like Mr. Jinkerson has a job ready for her at the end of this year at Bell City taking the place of Mrs. Wade. She directed "Radioactive", a newer piece in this set.
Mr. Rybolt took the stand. For the first song, he chose "Low Rider". For the final song explained his love of Bon Jovi music when announcing "You Give Love a Bad Name".
Written by
Erin Lauters, Student Writer SMT
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Senior High School Band performed in the auditorium at Dexter Senior High School on Thursday, March 13, 2014. The group, filled with high school students and middle school students alike, entered in on the stage with a full set of music ready to play.
The Concert Band played all the pieces they will be playing for contest on March 22, 2014. These pieces include "Simple Gifts" directed by Miss Shupbach, and "Seal Lullaby", and "March from Somerset" directed by Mr. Rybolt. After playing these pieces, the middle school students exited the stage, and the high school prepared to perform their last concert band piece, "Andrew Lloyd Webber" directed by Mr. Jinkerson. He was as excited as he could be while directing this piece, which was a mash-up of several Broadway musicals.
The Jazz Cats took the stage soon after and began their set with "Groovin' Hard". They followed that with "Malagueña","I Remember Clifford", and "St. Louis Blues".
After that they then commemorated the Beatles by playing "Norwegian Wood", which the crowd seemed to love.
Written by
Erin Lauters, Student Writer SMT
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Senior High School Jazz Cats traveled to Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff to have the opportunity to work with clinician Steve Williams in February. The Cats loaded up excitedly on the afternoon of the 13th as they were eager to see what advice clinician Steve Williams had to give them on their musical pieces.
The group, directed by Scott Rybolt, got the chance to listen to several other bands from the Southeastern region of Missouri. While actively listening to soloists as well as what the clinician was saying to other schools, the Dexter Senior High School Jazz band waited for their turn to perform with anticipation. After the clinician spoke to the group, they went to dinner, and changed to get ready for the real performance. The TRC Band performed first to kick off the night full of jazz bands playing in the Tinnin Center.
The Dexter Jazz Band was pumped and ready to go when it was their turn. The group performed "I Remember Clifford" featuring sophmore and lead trumpet Gina Magarian and "St. Louis Blues" which included a solo by senior Tyler Jones on tenor saxophone. The clinician after having a day full of high school bands got a short time of rest the next day before preparing for the group of All-District Jazz Band participants on Friday.
Written by
Erin Lauters, Student Writer SMT
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Senior High School All-District Jazz Band members met at Poplar Bluff on Friday, February 14, 2014 and Saturday, February 15, 2014. A select few students were chosen to be a part of the Southeast Missouri District 11 All-District Jazz Band after auditioning for the spots in September of last year.
The students, all members of the Dexter Senior High School Jazz Cats group (GO BEARCATS), were treated to an awesome clinician. Mr. Steve Williams from Windsor assisted these students, as well as the rest of the band, in creating music in just a few hours. The clinician has had about 20 years of experience in the field of music and thoroughly showed his passion for the subject this weekend.
The band met from 7:00 p.m. on Friday night, Valentine's Day, until 9:00 p.m. that same night. These young musicians worked diligently to adjust and listen in the new setting at the Tinnin Center of Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff. They went home, while some of the out-of-towners went to a local hotel, and got some rest before rising early the following morning. They arrived eager and ready to play at 8:30 a.m. sharp. They got a lunch break shortly after and then returned ready to go again at 1 p.m. After playing for a while, the group split for a dinner break before coming back and being treated to the college band playing for them before their performance. They played "Blues For the 'Cap'", "Road Song", "El Centro", "I Get A Kick Out Of You", "Lil' Darlin'", and "Honk".
The All-District Jazz Band Members from Dexter Senior High School's Jazz Cats pictured are from the left: Abby Mangnum on piano, Jon Durham on drums, Addison Moore on drums, Erin Lauters as Lead Tenor, the clinician Steve Williams, ad lead trumpet Gina Magarian.
