Written by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Essex, Missouri - Last Friday was the third annual Talent Show for the Richland School District after many years without having one. The Talent Show was a yearly tradition that ended a decade ago and was recently brought back by the music and band director, Amber Duley. Duley used to attend Richland and participated in the Talent Show when she was young, so in 2011, she brought back the tradition and it looks like it is here to stay again.
The Talent Show was ran by the music department with help from the band students who helped set up the stage, stayed late after school to practice, and helped direct traffic backstage while the show was going on. The show had a professional sound and lighting system with managers helping everything run smoothly. The show was held in the gymnasium and was practically sold out by the time seven o’clock hit.
There were a total of twenty-one performances, including singing, dancing, group talent, comedy, and a few videos here and there. Students of all ages participated, from elementary to high school. The third graders performed “Oh Won’t You Sit Down?” as a class after learning the song and routine in their music class. The Kindergarten through third grade cheerleaders did their routine to “I Want Candy” and the fourth through sixth grade cheerleaders danced to “Roar”. Both cheerleading groups learned the routines earlier in the year and performed them at the high school games.
As usual, there were many singing acts, including: fifth grader Shelby Mayabb who sang “Free to Be Me”, eighth grader Riley Thornton “Where Have You Been”, third grader Logan Holman “You Ain’t Woman Enough to Steal My Man”, third grader Rylee Taylor “Roar”, seventh grader Kate Wyman played piano while singing “Stay”, eighth grader Megan Cullum sang “Emotional Girl”, and Jamie Smith and Alicia Meeker played guitar and piano while singing “Iris”.
There were also many dancing acts that followed along with the singing. A group of fifth grade girls showed off their dance moves with the “Flo-cabulary Parts of Speech” and siblings Alexia Kemp and Hunter Sanders showcased their hilarious and adorable dance routine to “Wop”. The Rebel Swag Dance Crew, made up of the elementary’s best dancers, took the stage again and performed to a mash up of hip-hop songs from the 1990s. Lily Morrison, a fifth grader, was in more than five acts and also danced to a solo called “Step Up”.
Though there were songs and dances, just like at every talent show, Richland decided to twist things up with their various videos throughout the night. The first video to play was the Richland Beta Club’s “Happy” video, which they filmed earlier this year in just one day as they prepared to head to Branson in early March for State Convention. Since Richland is home to a State Beta Officer, the club created a video that would introduce Kannon Qualls at the convention, so they chose the song “Happy” by Pharrell Williams and reenacted the music video. Another video was produced by Duley, Adam Lane, Tyler Maddox, Kannon Qualls, and Preston Tilley called “Celebrity Jeopardy”. The parody was a crowd pleaser and was definitely one of the funniest acts.
The grand finale was “Mrs. Bruno Mars” herself (Duley), Adam Touchette, and the junior high band performing “Treasure”. The junior high band members learned “Treasure” a few weeks prior to the Talent Show and were excited to perform with dance moves and all. Duley is a proud believer in grand finales and in previous years she has done “Thriller” and “A Dance Through the Ages”, but this final act was probably the greatest performance yet.
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Malden, Missouri - Three Rivers College will hold a Career Expo from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, at the Malden Community Center, 607 N. Douglas in Malden. The Expo will offer area residents the opportunity to talk with representatives of Three Rivers’ career education programs about the benefits and career opportunities offered at Three Rivers.
“We had such great success at the Career Expo in Dexter that we wanted to bring that opportunity to Malden, as well,” said Connie Hampton, Director of the Center at Malden. “It’s a perfect chance to come see what sort of career opportunities are available for you, both in the area and with Three Rivers’ help.”
Representatives from local employers, as well as from Three Rivers academic and career programs will be on hand to talk about the opportunities available to area residents. Among those Three Rivers programs represented will be Nursing and Allied Health, Business, Teacher Education, Fire Science, Green Diesel, and more. College staff will also be available to talk about support programs for new students, financial aid, registration, and more.
Registration is now open for Maymester, Summer, Augmester, and Fall Semester classes at Three Rivers. For information on how to apply to become a student at Three Rivers, visit trcc.edu/admissions or call 573-840-9605. For more information on the Career Expo, call the Center at Malden at 573-276-3529.
Three Rivers College is committed to contributing to the quality of life in Southeast Missouri with quality, affordable higher education opportunities and community services that support and encourage the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of the region. For more information about college and workforce programs and upcoming events, visit trcc.edu.
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Congratulations to all the students on your accomplishments!
Front row: Lari Spitzer, 11th grade; Alexis McGowan, 12th grade. Back row: Josh Ellenburg 7th grade; Riley Griffin, 8th grade; Christina Dowdy, 9th grade; Cody King, 10th grade.
Photo provided by Michele Carmode, Bernie R-XIII Schools.
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Nine high school choirs performed in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center on March 22 and 29, as Three Rivers College hosted their 16th Annual Three Rivers District Music Festival. The event was open to the public, and friends and family members of the musicians were invited to attend.
The Festival is one of 20 such events in the state, where local choirs and choir members compete for spots in the State Music Festival in Columbia, Mo., on May 2 and 3. A “1” rating in the solo and ensemble competitions on March 29 ensure a spot in the state competitions in May.
Dexter Senior High School Honors Choir and Select Choir earned a "1" rating, which is classified as a superior rating.
"I am so proud of them and their commitment and dedication to this program," commented DHS Choral Director Jamie Sepulvado.
High Schools with choirs attending the festival were: Bloomfield, Central (New Madrid County), Dexter, Doniphan, Greenville, and Poplar Bluff.
“We’re pleased to be able to host this competition for the 16th year in a row. It’s a great opportunity for these young musicians to come together, learn, and test their skills,” said William “Buddy” White, Instructor of Music at Three Rivers College. “We expect approximately 2,000 students to perform over the two days of the festival. It’s really a community effort organizing and pulling this event off!”
Several vocalists will be representing Dexter that the State level. Reale Cook, a senior, will be taking a vocal solo. Reale will also be in a women's trio with junior Shelby Gathings and sophomore Lauren Thrower.
Angel Maze, a freshman will be taking a solo and a women's trio with Sarah Miller, Caroline Powers, who are both freshman as well.
Brooks Propst will also be taking a solo to Columbia in May.
Shown in the photo above are Sarah Miller and Brooks Propst on the back row. Caroline Powers, Angel Maze in the center and Reale Cook and Lauren Thrower in front. Shelby Gathings was unavailable for the photo.
Three Rivers College is committed to contributing to the quality of life in Southeast Missouri with quality, affordable higher education opportunities and community services that support and encourage the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of the region. For more information about college and workforce programs and upcoming events, visit trcc.edu.
Below is the entire Dexter Senior High School Choir including the Honors Choir and Select Choir. Congratulations to all the students for their hard work and good luck in Columbia.
You will have one more opporutnity to see these awesome students sing. On May 10th at 6:30 p.m. they will host a "Rockin' Out for Riley" Pop Concert. Riley Rickman is a DHS senior undergoing treatment for Leukemia was diagnosed over a month ago. A separate article will be posted soon.
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.
