On Monday, Feb. 24, many middle-school band members participated in the Clarke Middle School Solo Festival.
These band members rehearsed their music and then performed their pieces for a judge. This year, the judge was Oscar Ortiz, the middle-school band director at Chariton Middle School.
First, Ortiz listened to each performance. Immediately afterward, he offered positive feedback to each performer, as well as suggestions for improvement. Band members earned a rating based upon their performance. After the festival, each performer also received a written ballot from the judge and an award ribbon.
Ortiz selected Timber Kent, son of Lorie and Scott Kent, to receive the outstanding eighth-grade performance award for his snare drum solo. Victoria Swartz, daughter of Jennifer and William Swartz, received the outstanding seventh-grade performance award for her flute solo.
All middle school band members at Clarke are students of Christie Averweg.