Wrapping up the year with a combined showcase of talent from the music program, after a great concert in November. Prairie’s music program has more in store for the spring. 

The music program is made up of Prairie’s bands and choir. The band is made up of 8 bands including two jazz bands, two jazz combos, 3 concert bands, a pep band, and a pit orchestra.  Within the 3 concert bands: a freshman group “concert band,” a non-audition group “symphonic band,” and an audition-only group “wind ensemble.”

 The bands all have different schedules and requirements, some practice outside of school, for example, the two jazz bands practice at 0 periods Monday through Friday, and the pit orchestra rehearses after school with the drama club. For concert bands, wind ensemble requirements include auditions submitted the school year prior.

 As for leadership in each band, there are section leaders for each instrument and then overarching leadership positions called drum majors. This year the drum majors are senior Dakota Bodkin and Junior Ethan Pedersen. Drum majors lead the pep and marching band which is a combination of all the bands at Prairie, they bring energy to home football and basketball games. The pep band also assembles for the school’s state send-offs.

So far they have had 2 concerts, their first one was a fall concert on November 1 and the second was a holiday concert combined with the choir on December 15.  To begin the holiday concert, the choir started strong with various winter songs, including The Carol of the Bells, which included solos from Murat Bayramov, Mckenna Mckell, and Emily Picket. Then the band took over and had 6 to 8 small ensembles perform during intermissions throughout the night. Natalie Coughran, a wind ensemble and small ensemble member said, “ …it is very nerve-wracking but very exciting and an adrenaline rush when you are up there performing in front of everyone. “ 

The wind ensemble had a two-song set, they played African Holy Night and ended with White Christmas, which featured Ricardo Martin Del Campo on vocals. As Adisynn Ackley, a member of the choir said while talking about the band, “They did so good. I loved it.” 

Even when they are not playing their instruments the band is involved in events such as falcon forest, winter carnival, and trunk or treat. They had won the trunk or treat competition raising the most socks to go to charity.  

In their off time outside of school, they should be practicing for 2-3 hours a week. Even though when they perform it may only be for an hour, months of practice go into it. “The students work very hard to prepare the music for concerts, and it not only requires a lot of time and dedication in class, but it also requires a lot of work outside of class,” said Mr. Messling, the band director.

Right now they are in the middle of their jazz festival season with more competitions to follow. In the spring, concerts will be held in March and April, with the wind ensemble having their own showcase with an abundance of musical pieces adding up to over an hour. Make sure you keep an eye out for dates of future shows and make sure to be there.