Every other month we get an update on what’s been happening recently at our Immanuel Lutheran High School, College and Seminary in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Over the last dozen years, students at Immanuel Lutheran High School have spent the cold winter months practicing vocal and instrumental music that they’ve never heard before. Their goal? To perform for others and be given feedback by judges in order to become better musicians. This event, sponsored by the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association, is called Solo and Ensemble, where students perform by themselves or in small groups to learn how to stand on their own two feet and play or sing for others. So many memories of wonderful performances, so many friends working together having the best time, and so many students discovering they have God-given talents they didn’t know–these are the factors that bring Mrs. Laurie Lau to coordinate this opportunity year after year.
The Wisconsin State Music Association (WSMA), founded in 1932, provides music education opportunities to public and private schools, as well as to homeschooled students. This is not unique to Wisconsin; music associations in other states include Solo and Ensemble opportunities at the high school and middle school level. ILC has had a number of students enroll with prior experience in this event, and it’s been a blessing to be able to offer this program so that they can continue their learning.
ILC String Choir performing
Almost sixty ILC students have participated in Solo and Ensemble since 2014. Many of them entered more than one event each year, and many participated for multiple years. The process first involves deciding what type of piece to perform—solo, or ensemble (small group). Then, all performers must follow what’s affectionately called “The List” to find what music suits or challenges them. Much of it is classical, but there are also jazz and musical theater options. Students work their way from class to class, and if students earn a high enough score performing music from the most advanced list, they qualify for the State Festival in May. It takes about six or more weeks of practicing on their own, with weekly mini-lessons at ILC or with a private teacher outside ILC, for students to be ready to perform at the district levels.
On a Saturday in March or April, students get up early and go to a local high school to perform. Students wait their turns in the hall, enter with their accompanist and any friends or relatives coming to listen, and settle in for approximately eight minutes of performing and comments by the judge. Judges are current and former music teachers from all around our region. Then it’s on to the next event to perform, or cheer for another musician, while waiting for scores to be posted online.
Half of our events this year are eligible for the State Solo and Ensemble Festival, held at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on the first Saturday in May. These students will put their feedback from districts into their performance and are hoping to earn high scores, receive even more feedback from specialized judges, and perhaps be nominated or given the Exemplary Soloist/Ensemble award. This is the “best of the best” acknowledgement from this organization.
An added benefit of membership in the WSMA is the opportunity to audition for the State Honors Project—a large-group performance opportunity. To be selected for this state-wide competition is an honor. This group meets for a camp in the summer, after which the band, orchestra, and choir perform in Madison at the Wisconsin State Music Conference. ILC has had three performers over the years selected to participate in the band.
The spring semester is filled with many activities for those at ILC, and music performances and competitions have been one of them for over a decade. Thank you, ILC, for supporting your musicians!
is President of Immanuel Lutheran College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Laurie Lau contributed to this article.