CMS - Hastings Music Festival

An adjudicated performing opportunity for private lessons students, Music Festival is offered at CMS-Hastings each spring. Instructors Melissa Risk and Holly Bolthouse created the Festival in 2005, modeling it after Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association's Solo and Ensemble festival and Piano Achievement testing. Vocal, strings, guitar, brass, woodwind, and piano students prepare a solo to perform for an adjudicator, and receive coaching and suggestions.  In addition to their solo, students perform technical exercises and take a theory test.  The scores for all areas are rated and students earn medals for I and II division ratings. All students receive a certificate of participation. 

Anthony Hull, a piano student from CMS-H has participated in the Music Festival for the past 3 years. “My favorite part about the festival was earning the medal.  My least favorite part was playing my scales.  Playing for the judge was not scary at all.  She talked with me about my solo and told me I should work on my scales a lot more for next year.”

Anthony's sister Emily also a piano student at Community Music School, participated in the Festival for the first time last year. “My favorite part was taking the theory test.  At first I thought it was a little scary playing for the judge but I am going to do it again this year.”

Both Anthony and Emily earned First Division medals for their piano solos. Anthony and Emily's mother, Char Hull, said that the Festival is a good experience.  The students have to work very hard to be prepared to perform. At first the kids were anxious to play for a judge, but they were quite proud of themselves after they earned their medals.  As a parent, it is great to see the entire process.”

Last year over 60 piano, clarinet, voice and guitar students participated in the event, which is open to all area private lessons students. For more information call the CMS-Hastings office at 269.948.9441.

Tuition: $15, includes medal

Photo: Hannah and Katie Wilgus proudly show the First Division medals they earned for their piano solos and a duet.  Also shown are Adjudicators Ruth Goveia and Jodine Bandlow.