GMS Band Sweeps Concert Contest

The Groesbeck Middle School Band competed in the Region 8 Middle School UIL Concert and Sightreading Evaluations on Thursday, April 4, hosted at Groesbeck High School. Like the high school competition, the band is judged on their ability to play several predetermined pieces for the concert portion of the contest. They are then given a few minutes to look over and have the director explain things to them and then three minutes to practice select parts of a piece they have never seen, before performing it to be judged on their sight reading ability. This year, the band competed as a mixed ensemble of 7th and 8th graders. Although the students meet in two class periods by grade, they learned the same pieces and were able to combine their efforts for one Varsity ensemble through three joint rehearsals. Five of the six judges awarded the band 1st Division, Superior ratings, while one concert judge rated the band with a 2nd Division, Excellent rating. Since the GMS Band earned an overall 1st Division in both the concert and the sightreading portions of the event, the ensemble received a Concert Sweepstakes award and a trophy for their performance. The band played under the direction of the head middle school director, Ms. Kristi Flusche.