Crown Point High School hosts ISSMA competition, students find success
A high school would not be considered complete to some without its band, choir or orchestra, and The Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) aims to support these aspects of Indiana schools.
One way ISSMA sets musical education standards is through its annual competitions for various forms of music. Its most recent competition was held at Crown Point High School on Jan. 28 at the District level for wind, percussion and strings solos and ensembles. Each category is divided into five groups, Group V being the easiest and Group I being the most difficult. The awards are distributed based on point values from bronze, the lowest, to silver to gold, the highest. Those who receive a gold in Group I advance to the state competition in Indianapolis.
Students have the opportunity to compete in many ways, such as sophomore Morgan Taylor. She participated in a solo, with the chamber orchestra and with a cello choir all in Group I.
“I was awarded a silver for my solo and golds for both chamber and cello choir. Each were half a point away from a perfect score,” Taylor said.
Achieving such high scores comes with work and dedication which can be seen through Taylor’s history with orchestra and ISSMA competitions. The consistency of competitions helps her prepare by knowing what’s in store.
“I’ve been competing in ISSMA since the sixth grade, and it’s always been the same thing. The only things that really ever change are your judge, your song and the time you play,” Taylor said. “I’ve been working on my solo on and off for about a year, and I’ve had the pieces for my other ensembles for a few months now. I practice whenever I have free time, and of course during my lessons and rehearsals.”
Senior Lauren Massow has competed in ISSMA for the past seven years and has performed a solo for six of them. Daily practices and lessons with a private instructor lead to confidence in her pieces. But unlike Taylor, Massow found differences in her performances this year compared to the past.
“This year I did a Group I solo and an ensemble entry with the Chamber Orchestra. I received a gold rating in each event, qualifying for the state competition in February … This ISSMA competition was definitely a lot different than years prior,” Massow said. “I really didn’t have any of the nerves that came along with competing. I figured that if I could survive a grueling college audition that I could play fine in front of a judge at my own high school. It was also a little bittersweet knowing that this was going to be my last year competing at ISSMA since I am a senior.”
Being a senior does not completely dissolve performance nerves, according to senior Brandon Gargano. Gargano explains that his nerves dissolve after he begins playing no matter how much preparation he has.
“I was extremely nervous (before performing). I knew I had the piece down, but just seeing the judge out of my peripheral vision gave me extreme anxiety. Right before starting to play, I felt a little sick and my chest was hurting, but by the time I was about halfway through the piece, I started to calm down and tried to enjoy the experience.”
Practicing before others added to Gargano’s confidence in his pieces and played a part in his solo’s success, earning him a gold. They provided him with constructive criticism for him to perfect his playing.
“I played through my piece almost every day, usually playing about two or three times a day. I had been practicing it for over a year, and I practiced with my pianist maybe once a week. I also constantly pestered my director and also other students to listen to me play and give me honest criticism so that I could try and perfect my piece as best as I could,” Gargano said.
But no matter how nervous one is to perform, Taylor says it all comes down to playing for yourself.
“I get very nervous when I play, but as the piece goes on, the anxiety turns into an adrenaline rush. You just learn to let loose and have fun with it because your life does not depend on how you play,” Taylor said. “The point is to impress yourself so there is no point in being worried about impressing anyone else.”
Preparation for spring musical “Kiss Me, Kate” excites those involved
Spring at CPHS brings a crowd favorite: the annual musical. Though shows do not begin until March, the Theatre department is hard at work preparing for this year’s musical, “Kiss Me, Kate.”
“Kiss Me, Kate” revolves around Fred Graham and Lilli Vanessi, a divorced couple, who are reunited and forced to play the leads in a Shakespeare play. The “show within a show” allows the audience to view the battles that wage between the couple throughout the production as they claim to hate one another but slowly fall back in love.
The musical brings excitement not only to the audience, but also to those involved in the project.
“I am so excited for this year’s musical because it is so funny and well written. It was also the first musical to ever win a Tony. The music is by Cole Porter who is from Indiana, so that’s also awesome,” senior Graham Votaw said.
Votaw has been involved in various productions both in and out of CPHS. He has been cast as the male lead, Fred, and is grateful for the part.
“I’m so happy to be a lead because it feels like years of practice and training have paid off. I’m very grateful because I feel like the directors trust me and believes in my talent which is a massive compliment to the work I have done,” Votaw said.
No matter the role, all those involved are excited for this spring’s performance like junior Alex Drakulich.
“I’m really excited about this musical because it has a unique plot with different sets and wonderful music in it. We also have great people working on choreography, so our dance numbers will look great and fresh,” Drakulich said.
Similarly, senior Erin Demo is thrilled with the musical choice. She believes it is the perfect performance to end her performing arts career on.
“I’m overly excited to perform this year. It’s the last show I’ll likely be in since I’m not pursuing acting or musical theatre in college, and I’m determined to go out with a bang,” Demo said. “I’m very close with a handful of underclassmen, and this is the last show we’ll ever perform in together, so we’re looking forward to making memories together.”
The thrill of being on stage bring nerves, Drakulich explains, but after the first scene, the worry disappears.
“Before performing I am always nervous, and I just wait to get on stage. I get butterflies and always run through my lines before my first scene. Personally, the first scene is the hardest scene just because it’s getting used to the audience, and you hope to God you don’t screw up,” Drakulich said. “After that first scene, you get more comfortable then start to enjoy the show more. When you hear the audience react, it makes you want to give the scene more than you did before. Performing is a great experience for acting.”
No matter the role she has or the plot of the production, Demo cherishes every moment she has on stage. It allows her to escape the problems she has in real life and brings the “utmost joy and happiness.”
“When I’m performing, I just feel total bliss. After the first initial moment you get on stage, the butterflies and jitters all go away,” Demo said. “It’s a hard feeling to explain, but I’ve never felt anything like it. Like it’s what I think being on drugs is like.”
“Kiss Me, Kate” will be performed on March 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 at 7 p.m. and March 12 at 2:30 p.m. at the CPHS auditorium. Tickets can be bought at cphstheatre.com starting in late February.