The Madill band received multiple good ratings at the district contest Wednesday afternoon in Konawa. They just missed out on earning a bid in the state competition. According to band director Kendal Hasty, there are two sections in the contest. Stage performance is evaluated as the band is asked to play two selections of contrasting styles. One of the selections must be from an OSSAA prescribed list given by school classification. These pieces are judged by a panel of three. The sight reading aspect of the competition requires the band to prepare and play a musical selection previously unseen by the group. The judging panel grants the band eight minutes to ready itself to play the selection mistake free with no pause. Interestingly, the band is not allowed to make a sound with instruments in preparation for the sight reading portion of the competition. Bands receiving superior marks in the district contest advance to the state band contest. Madill's concert band last reached state in 2002. "It is a super hard thing to accomplish, but the Wildcat band is on the right track. We are closer to superior ratings now than we were last year," Hasty noted. "Improvement is good. We just need to keep our chins up and keep plugging away." file photo |