Students from 10 different school districts in Genesee and Wyoming Counties gathered at Le Roy Jr. Sr. H.S. for the annual GWMEA (Genesee-Wyoming Music Educators Association) Solo Festival on Saturday.
The students participating attend Solo Festival for educational value and feedback from professional musicians and are also auditioning to be selected into All-County Band and Choruses. Students will learn on Monday and Tuesday if they’ve made it or not. Students in grades 4th-12th participate in Solo Festival.
Matthew Nordhausen, LeRoy Marching Knights Band Director, and Jacqueline McLean, Le Roy CSD Director of Music are Co-Chairs of the annual event at Le Roy Schools.
Nordhausen says there are so many benefits for students to participate in Solo Fest.
“It’s for them to take on this kind of an independent study project, to go above and beyond what they’re typically doing in their regular lessons and ensembles, to go above and beyond and learn and prepare this solo that’s typically going to be challenging them in terms of maybe notes and rhythms and things like that,” says Nordhausen.
According to Nordhausen, personal growth is one of the things that students experience.
“Then there’s conquering maybe those fears or anxieties or stresses of having to perform. It’s one thing to perform in an ensemble when you’re sitting amongst your peers and playing all the same things, and there’s a little bit of hiding that can be involved there if need be. But you know, when you’re by yourself, it’s just you. So, you really gotta know your stuff. It really helps them in real world applications. I mean, that’s what they’re gonna have to do someday to interview for a job. You’re not interviewing as a group.”
