MC Student Receives Prestigious Music Award

By Kyle Christensen
Courier Staff

Freshman music major Aaron Flatt was recently named the winner of the Monmouth College High School Honor Band Fest-ival’s Second Annual Con-ducting Competition.

Hosted at the Dahl Chapel and Auditorium on Saturday, Jan. 21, Flatt’s prize consisted of leading the full band, which contained more than 80 individuals from throughout the state, at the podium during the ensemble’s public performance of “Echoes” by Samuel Hazo.

Additional selections from the event included “Celebration” by Walter Mead, “Mandalen Land-scapes” by Philip Sparke and “Persistence” by Richard Saucedo.

With essentially one-and-a-half months of preparation time allotted, the four student entrants, who would inevitably vie for the honor, had to arrange a musical score, as well as run through the piece with the group for their final evaluation.

“We were all given a chance to rehearse beforehand,” Flatt remarked, citing practice opportunities the candidates were allowed in advance.

Flatt remained assured, but still realistic about his ultimate aspirations for the contest, stating, “I thought I had a good chance, but I thought the others did well too.”

A tuba player and former drum major from Streator, Ill., Flatt believed his previous experiences would assist him in impressing the judging panel, comprised of Sarah Graham, director of choral activities and vocal studies; Tony Oliver, lecturer- percussion and Ian Moschenross, assistant professor-piano/ music history.

After each of the contenders completed their closing audition (all within the same day of the showcase), the judges briefly deliberated in a separate room and returned to announce that Flatt had received the esteemed accolade.

The eight-hour music workshop commenced at 4 p.m. with the seminar’s concluding recital (featuring Flatt’s privileged moment) in Dahl’s Kasch Performance Hall.

Following the concert, Flatt perceived the overall reception from the audience as generally positive.

“A lot of students told me that I did a good job,” Flatt mentioned with pride.

Furthermore, Flatt claimed to have been revered by select faculty members as possessing characteristics of highly-skilled expertise and a very professional demeanor.