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February 2008
IHSA Solo and Ensemble
Congratulations to the following students who recently won Division I Ratings at the IHSA Solo and Ensemble contest at Millikin University March 1, 2008:
Tess Harris - Flute Solo
Natalie Jones - Flute Solo
Katie McDaniel - Bassoon Solo
Anne Higgins - Trumpet Solo
Alex Hoffman - Trombone Solo
Tess Harris - Piano Solo
The following students received a Division II Rating at the same contest:
Aaron Taylor/Tess Harris - Piano Duet
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Decatur Music Guild Scholarship Awarded
Congratulations to Decatur Music Guild Scholarship winners
Katie McDaniel and Alex Hoffman. They will receive private lessons from the Millikin faculty in the fall.
Congratulations to Scholarship Alternate - Natalie Jones!
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February 2008
The 2008 Apollo All-Conference Honor Band that consists of the best band students from each of the schools in the Apollo conference has been announced. Mt. Zion High School will be sending twelve players to this concert that will be held at the Effingham High School. The Apollo Band Festival guest conductor will be Dr. David Snyder from Illinois State University. The All-Conference Band will give a concert on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 7:00pm at Effingham High School.
Congratulations to:
Alex Brinkman
Kurtis Cramer
Drew Evans
Julie Hagan
Tess Harris
Anne Higgins
Rebecca Hughes
Meagan McChristy
Katie McDaniel
Eric Mullens
Nanako Oguchi
Brad Pasley
Students will rehearse all day Wednesday and perform the concert in the evening.
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March 2007
The Apollo Conference has initiated a new tradition. Beginning in 2007 the schools in the Apollo Conference will select an All-Conference Honor Band that will consist of the best players from each school in the conference. This year the All-Conference Band will give a concert on Wednesday, March 7:00 at Effingham High School. Dr. Milton Allen, the new Director of Bands at Eastern Illinois University, will conduct the band. Mt. Zion High School has had twelve members selected to the all conference band. They are:
Klay Baynar - Trumpet
Mat Bradshaw - Tenor Saxophone
Alex Brinkman - Trombone
Drew Evans - Percussion
Jackie Gray - Clarinet
Caitlin Hietter - French Horn
Anne Higgins - Trumpet
Jennifer Kater - Flute
Ryan Keirl - Tuba
Julie Niles - Oboe
Alec Shaw - Baritone Saxophone
Justin Williams - Alto Saxophone
Students will rehearse all day at Effingham High School with Dr. Allen before giving their concert that evening.
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March 2007
First Place Ratings were awarded to:
Tess Harris - Flute Solo
Tess Harris - Piano Solo
Natalie Jones - Flute Solo
Natalie Jones and Stephanie Helfrich - Flute Duet
Rebecca Boorstein - Clarinet Solo
Katie McDaniel - Bassoon Solo
Tess Harris, Rebecca Boorstein, Susie Reinstorf, Katie McDaniel - Woodwind Quartet
Rebecca Boorstein, DJ Buchanan - Clarinet Duet
Greg Miller and Chase Hollingsead - Also Saxophone Duet
Adam Thompson - Snare Solo
Chris Rowe - Snare Solo
Chris Rowe received "Best of the Day" from his judge for the overall room award
2nd Place Ratings were awarded to:
Susie Reinstorf - Oboe Solo
DJ Buchanan - French Horn Solo
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January, 2007
The Mt. Zion Band Program recently donated their former High School band uniforms to Hope Academy in Decatur, Illinois.  Over 60 uniforms consisting of dark blue blazers and adjustable navy pants will work well with Hope Academy colors which are dark blue and orange. Although Mt. Zion was embroidered on the blazer, Mrs. Tucker, Vocal Music Director of Hope Academy, stated she didn't think that would be a problem, as Hope's logo is round and would fit perfectly as a patch over the Mt. Zion on the jackets. Mrs. Tucker also thought that due to the large number of uniforms donated both the vocal and the band/orchestra programs at Hope would have concert uniforms. Both Mrs. Tucker and Mrs. Heras, Band/Orchestra Director were very grateful for the donations and told the students delivering the uniforms that they would be put to good use. Mrs. Tucker treated the students who delivered and carried in all the uniforms to a tour of Hope Academy.
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November, 2006
The Mt. Zion Junior and Senior High School Band will be well represented at the Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) District Music Festival held at Eastern Illinois University on Saturday, November 18, 2006. Participating band members from Mt Zion Junior High are: Tess Harris, Flute; Natalie Jones, Flute; Tayler McCarthy, Trombone;
Katie McDaniel, Bassoon. Student's chosen from High School are: Caitlin Hietter, French Horn; Anne Higgins, Trumpet; Jennifer Kater, Flute.
Placement is made through stringent auditions completed at Effingham High school this past Columbus Day. These students were selected by judges for participation in a band comprised of students from all over Southeastern Illinois. On Saturday, November 18th they rehearse all day in preparation for a concert that evening at Eastern Illinois University. Juniors and seniors may then be selected for participation in the Illinois Music Educator's Association All-State Band. This takes place in January during a
3-day convention of music teachers in Peoria, IL.
The IMEA District 5 Junior High Concert will begin at 5:00 P.M. in South McAfee Gym on the Eastern Illinois campus in Charleston, IL. The Junior High Orchestra will perform at 5:30 P.M. in the Union Ballroom and the Senior High Concert is at 6:30 P.M. in the South McAfee Gym. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. There will be a nominal admission charge.
____________________________________________________________________________________________ October 14, 2006
The Mt. Zion Marching Braves in Class 4A received second place in Auxiliary (Color Guard) and third place in the Drum Major category at the Effingham Marching Hearts Invitational. The MTZ Band also received the participation award in Class 4A. This award is given to the band in each class that engages or connects with the audience and receives the most crowd involvement.
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September 23, 2006
The Mt. Zion Marching Braves placed FIRST in Class AA
in the Pekin Dragon Classic and also brought home a trophy
for FIRST PLACE in the Best Winds category! The Band placed second overall, losing by only a few points to the State Champions, Morton High School.
___________________________________________________________________________________________ April 2006
Mt. Zion High School Concert Band and Color Guard
Are Named International Champion in Toronto, Canada The Mt. Zion High School Concert Band received a 1st Place in Class AA music and were named Grand Champions of the Educational Programs "Festival of Music" held in Toronto, Canada on April 6 - 8, 2006. The Auxiliary/Color Guard also attended the Festival of Music and was awarded a 1st place for Indoor Dance/Flag Teams Competition Class AA.
The Mt. Zion Auxiliary Color Guard directed by of Becky Seay competed in the Indoor Dance/Flag Team competition with their three-act rendition of “Little Shop of Horrors” complete with Seymour the man-eating Venus flytrap. Colorful backdrops, flashy costumes, and multicolored flags filled their first place performance.
The Concert Band, under the direction of Tim Page, received the highest scores of all participating ensembles regardless of class or ensemble type, therefore capturing 1st Place Overall or Grand Champions of the Festival. Well-known Canadian college music professors and conductors critiqued the band following the competition. Four states were represented in the International Festival of Music.
“These kids have worked really hard, and I knew they had it in them all along to perform well even at this level,” beamed Page. Page wants the community to understand the time, effort, and dedication that these kids have put forth in making this program successful this year, and hopes that the area supports them and rewards their commitment by attending the concert band's final performance on May 9, 2006 at the school. The trophies from the bands award-winning year will be on display at the concert.
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