Young musicians gather for Mission Valley Band Festival
BERL TISKUS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 11 months AGO
Reporter Berl Tiskus joined the Lake County Leader team in early March 2023, and covers Ronan City Council, schools, ag and business. Berl grew up on a ranch in Wyoming and earned a degree in English education from MSU-Billings and a degree in elementary education from the University of Montana. Since moving to Polson three decades ago, she’s worked as a substitute teacher, a reporter for the Valley Journal and a secretary for Lake County Extension. | November 22, 2023 11:00 PM
With 145 excited band students from high schools in Charlo, Noxon, Plains, St. Regis, Superior, and Thompson Falls in a group at Ronan High School for the Mission Valley Music Festival, the joint was jumping last week. The kids were divided into two groups – concert band and percussion ensemble – and rehearsed all day Nov. 14.
Alicia Lipscomb, band instructor/director for Ronan High School, set up the festival specifically for smaller schools so students have an opportunity to play in a bigger school setting.
Playing with other high school kids allows them to work with more difficult music and possibly try out a new instrument.
“We have all the clarinets, saxophones, French horns and percussion instruments they may not have at their schools,” Lipscomb added.
Derek Larsen, band director and superintendent at St. Regis, handled the job as guest instructor/conductor for the festival, Lipscomb said. The final concert was held Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ronan Event Center.
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