Goessel groups rated superior in Texas
Goessel High School band, choir, and Elbiata Singers competed April 8 in the 2006 Big D Classic Music Festival, sponsored by American Classic in Dallas, Texas.
The band received 248 points out of a possible 300 points, and was awarded the trophy for an excellent rating in Class 1A competition, which included schools with an enrollment of 194 or less.
The Elbiata Singers received 288.3 points and was awarded the first-place trophy and outstanding performance trophy in the Class 1A madrigal choir competition.
The choir received 289 points and was awarded the first-place trophy in Class 1A.
The choir also brought home the outstanding performance trophy and missed the outstanding festival choral group trophy for all classes by .8 point. A class with an enrollment of more than 1,985 students won that award.
Kyle Unruh received the outstanding soloist award, which was presented to five students during the weekend festival.
Judges were asked to listen to soloists in the orchestra, band, and choirs. Individual students who were "exceptional" in their ensembles were chosen by the judges. By the end of the weekend, judges had awarded medals to four instrumentalists and one vocalist.
Other highlights of the Texas trip included visiting the JFK Sixth Floor Museum, a Medieval Times dinner and tournament, and Six Flags. A special highlight was the choir performing at the Oklahoma Symbolic Memorial Bomb Site on the way home.
The public will have the opportunity to hear music that was performed at the Texas festival May 16 during the annual community barbecue and spring concert.
The annual event is the only fund-raiser the music department sponsors to pay for trip costs such as the Texas trip.
The barbecue will be in the cafeteria and will begin at 5:30 p.m. The concert in the auditorium will begin at 7 p.m.
