NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. — The Indiana State School Music Association held its Solo and Ensemble Band Contest on February 4, 2017 at Carroll High School. Students can participate in a solo or ensemble in several di culty levels called Groups. Group V is the easiest level, meant for beginning and rst-time students. Group I is college level music and students must be selected from a list of approved solos and ensembles.
The Manchester Band Program had 40 students participate. There were 21 solos and ensembles between the Junior High Band and High School Band. Select Sixth Grade band students from Manchester Intermediate School earned 5 Gold ratings and 2 Silver ratings for solos. Manchester Junior-Senior High School had 21 solos and ensembles earning a total of 15 Gold and 6 Silver ratings. Keauna Allen got a Gold in Group I, advancing to the State Solo and Ensemble on February 25th at North Central High School.
Band director, Je Huber, said, “I was very proud of how hard the students worked. Each year more and more students participate. This year, even with more students participating, we had the most success yet. This event, unlike other events, requires students to work on their own, outside of school. This year’s students did a great job.”