1 week Ago By Will Vraspir [email protected]
MINDEN — Students in high school and junior high shared their love of music Saturday during the 34th Minden Bandfest celebration. Marching in an event designed by and for musicians, 37 schools participated in the parade portion of the competition. The parade began near Bethany Home south of Minden High School and followed First Street east to Brown Avenue, then Brown (Nebraska Highway 10) north to Fifth Street, then Fifth Street back west toward the school campus.
Following a break, students and spectators gathered at Minden Public Schools’ Kuper Field for the field competition where seven schools performed. Judges provided participating squads with evaluations on music, marching and general effect. Bands receiving 80-100 points earned “superior” ratings, while those garnering 60-80 points received “excellent” ratings.
For some, Bandfest served as the capstone event for the season. St. Cecilia High School had to forego field marching this year with the current band director, Jack Moore, stepping into the position in September.
They participated in the parade competition and earned a superior rating. “With 14 kids in the band, I think it’s amazing how they look and sound,” he said. Other schools found Bandfest to be one last opportunity for feedback before heading to the state competition next week.
Adams Central High School senior Matt Lauder said it’s the smallest competition the band attends, but it’s a good confirmation about their preparedness for state. This year, the band earned a superior rating at each competition, including both the parade and field competition at Bandfest. Senior Gabriel Gentert enjoys marching band competitions because of the atmosphere students and spectators bring.
“It’s a competition, but everybody is going to be nice to each other,” he said. It was the only marching competition for the Blue Hill junior high marching band. Band director Janice Dart said the high school band performs in other contests through the season, but this event they reserve for newer students, of which there were 17 this year.
She said it’s great to have an event dedicated to band students. “This is such a nice first experience parade for our kids,” she said. “The organizers are so kind.
We appreciate that as well.” Todd Jensen, Bandfest coordinator, said Saturday’s partly cloudy skies provided great weather for band performances and spectators. “Earlier in the week, they were talking rain,” he said.
“It ended up being a beautiful afternoon.” Saturday’s events were organized by the Minden Chamber of Commerce. Jensen said the volunteers are crucial to the success of the day.
“It’s a great event for Minden,” he said. Parade results Junior high Superior: Arapahoe, Blue Hill, Faith Christian, Holdrege, Minden, Palmer Excellent: Central City Class D Superior: Axtell, Chambers, Litchfield, Loup City, North Platte Catholic, Sumner-Eddyville-Miller, Wilcox-Hildreth Excellent: Kenesaw, Medicine Valley, Overton, Pleasanton Class C Superior: Alma, Amherst, Arapahoe, Centura, St. Cecilia, St.
Paul, Superior Excellent: Gibbon, Sandy Creek, Southern Valley, Twin River, Wood River Class B Superior: Adams Central, Broken Bow, Holdrege, Kearney Catholic, Minden Class A Superior: McCook Field competition results (All classes together) Superior: Adams Central, Hershey, Holdrege, Kearney Catholic Excellent: McCook, Minden, Superior.
