Written by Brooklyn Adams
The Scarlet Regiment Marching Band started the school year off strong. Students put in countless hours over the summer and mornings before school in preparation for Friday nights, Band Day, and the State contest. Drum major, Abbie Droessler, said, “It was a great season and it’s always a success when no one is hurt by a colorguard flag.” Students were able to maintain a high performance standard while also having fun.
The 77th Band Day took place on October 4th and was a big success. The band received a Division I rating at the State contest.
In October, 26 students traveled to Le Mars to audition for the All-State Music Festival. Acceptance to the Festival is one of the highest honors you can receive as a music student. Six students were named to the band: Owen Orban, Abigail Droessler, Catherine Hart, Cassidy Bierstedt, Ethan Orban, and Paul Kissinger. Two students were named to the orchestra: David Kissinger and Axel Mortensen, and two were selected as alternates: Connor Reagan and Brody Sudol. The festival took place on November 20-22.
The band has been working hard to prepare and send a recording to the Iowa Bandmasters Association. Within “Operation Next-Level,” several clinicians have been brought in to improve the band and complete the recording project. The recordings sent in were compared against all other 3A schools in the state to be selected for the Iowa Bandmasters conference. Director Nic Liebl provided a statement concerning the band’s success, “Operation Next-Level has been instrumental in providing exposure to professional quality musicians and educators to the students of the Algona band program and has been key in supporting our students for wild success.” The band was selected to perform at the Iowa Bandmasters Association conference in May. It is the first time the high school band has ever been selected for this honor!
On January 10th, 20 students traveled to Mason City to participate in the North Central Iowa Bandmasters Association Honor Band. Selected students auditioned for chair placements that morning, rehearsed during the day, and performed a concert that night. There were two bands, 9-10 and 11-12. Students selected for the 9-10 band included Ethan Orban, Jayce Moser, Paul Kissinger, Natalie Fuerstenau, Sophia Fuerstenau, Brody Sudol, Grethel Rivas T
orres, Brayden Adams, Kinsey Throne, and Karysn Myhre. Students selected for the 11-12 band included Owen Orban, David Kissinger, Alejandro Gonzalez Gutierrez, Cassidy Bierstedt, Elie Eden, Brooklyn Adams, Catherine Hart, and Abigail Droessler.
In the upcoming months, students will prepare for Solo and Small Ensemble competition, which will take place in March. The band will also begin preparing for the Large Group festival in May. Congratulations to all students in the band program for their hard work and successes!