Cardinalaires, choir and band travelled to Douglass High School for league competitions on March 6. In addition to large group performances, students had the opportunity to perform solos and ensembles in front of judges, who gave them  a score out of V, with I being the best score.

“Our choir group got a II,” sophomore Neal Zoglmann said. “I think we could’ve done better because our rhythm, pitch and tempo were off, and they went crazy.“

The band also scored a II on their performance. This is the school’s first year scoring below a I on overall group performances in 6 years, according to band director Dennis Kerr. Scores across all large group performances were low: only two I scores from individual judges were given to bands — and no one band received an overall I — in the entire day this year.

Junior and Cardinalaire member Leah Reep agreed that the judges were tough, but she also said they gave good feedback.

“Even though the judges were tough, I feel that they had very good constructive criticism and feedback,” she said. “I feel we did very well on our songs, but I hope to do better at regionals.”

The students performing ensembles and solos go to regionals on April 7 to compete at Butler. The band and choir groups travel to large group state competition on April 19 in Pratt.

“As a group, I hope for us to get better at working as a unit and to blend the band better,” sophomore Cierra Hiser said.