Written by

Erin Lauters, SMT Writer

Dexter, Missouri - Two Dexter Senior High School Students have congratulations in order. After the long and brutal wait for results this Christmas break, these two got a wonderful present- Alternate rankings for the Missouri All State Jazz Band.

These students had to record themselves playing selected pieces and send it in to Columbia, Missouri for judging. On Saturday, January 4, 2014, a mass of selected band directors and music majors met in Columbia to start this tedious process. Afterwards, the results were posted on the Missouri Bandmasters Association website.

The students got the music in May and have been working hard on it ever since. Jon Durham, Dexter Senior High School Senior, came after school and worked diligently on his percussion pieces. Jon was a member of the All-District band, which he auditioned for last November. Jon was auditioning for one of the most elite spots in the All-District Concert Band.  Jon also improved his pieces by going to lessons with expert percussionists for advice. Jon was cast as 1st Alternate.

Lacey Midgett, Dexter Senior High School Junior and a member of the Dexter Senior High School Marching Bearcats Color Guard, stay after school to practice as well. As a part of the Color Guard, she had to devote at least 30 minutes during practice right after school to playing her instrument and working on audition materials for the prestigious band. Lacey plays an instrument in the lower portion of the clarinet family, called a Contra Clarinet. This clarinet reaches close to the same pitches as a tuba or baritone saxophone. Lacey made 2nd alternate landing her a seat as one of the best Contra Clarinetists in the state. Lacey, like Jon, attended lessons. Lacey met with clarinet instructors to work on her pieces.