Schoharie Valley Concert Band

Music - Life-Long Appreciation
 
 

2020 Donald Webster Solo Festival Winners


Heather Black Rachel Zeh Paul Munson Heidi Collischonn
The winners of the 21st Annual Donald Webster Solo Festival from l. to r.: Heather Black (Grade 6-8, Alto Saxophone), Rachel Zeh (Grade 9-11, Flute), Paul Munson (Senior, Percussion) & Heidi Collischonn (Senior, Flute)

On February 1 st the Schoharie Valley Concert Band (SVCB) sponsored its 21st annual "Donald Webster Solo Festival" to recognize outstanding middle and high school instrumental musicians. The annual festival is open to musicians from area school districts which belong to the Schoharie CountyMusic Teachers Association. The SVCB sponsors the solo festival to develop musical excellence in soloperformers, to encourage the performance of solo literature, and to foster the continued study of music by graduating seniors. The festival is named for Donald Webster, who conducted the SVCB for 13 seasons.

Cash prizes were earned by winning student soloists in the Grade 6-8, Grade 9-11, and Grade 12 categories. The Grade 6-8 category was won by Heather Black, a Grade 8 alto saxophonist from Duanesburg CS, who played “Three Romances” by Schuman. Grade 6 flutist Kerrington Bellinger from Gilboa-Conesville CS also competed in the Grade 6-8 category.

In the Grade 9-11 category the winner was Rachel Zeh, a Grade 11 flutist from Duanesburg CSD, who played “Fantaisie Op.79” by Gabriel Faure. The three soloists from Schoharie CS who participated in this category were Grade 9 flutist Emily Lehoe and two Grade 10 clarinetists, Scarlett Rose and Mary Palmieri. There also were two contestants from Cobleskill-Richmondville CS, Grade 9 xylophonist Ananda Wilding and Grade 10 flutist Natasha Hitchcock.

At the SVCB’s Friday February 27th 7:30PM Pops Concert at Schoharie CS, the band will award Heather Black her Grade 6-8 $250 winning prize and Rachel Zeh her Grade 9-11 $375 winning prize.

In the Grade 12 category there were two senior co-winners of $500 each, Paul Munson from Duanesburg CS and Heidi Collischonn from Cobleskill-Richmondville CS.

Paul Munson performed two pieces on marimba, “Children’s Prayer” by Engelbert Humperdinck and “Rain Dance” by Alice Gomez. He will play a xylophone solo with the SVCB on its Friday April 24th Spring Concert at 7:30PM in the Schoharie HS auditorium, where he will receive his prize of $500.

Heidi Collischonn performed “Concertino” by Chaminade as her flute solo. She will play that same piece with band accompaniment on the SVCB’s Sunday April 26 th Spring Concert at 3PM in the Cobleskill-Richmondville HS auditorium, where she also will receive her prize of $500.

Both winning seniors plan to pursue music majors in college. Heidi Collischonn is deciding whether to attend the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam or Hartwick College. Paul Munson will attend Virginia Tech University, which is well known for its regimental drum corps and marching bands.

The SVCB extends special thanks to solo festival judges Ellen Rizzo and Lori Hershenhart, to music teachers Carrie Styles (accompanist) and Sarah Becker from Schoharie CS; to Maxwell Horning (accompanist) and Marc Bachorik from Cobleskill-Richmondville CS; and to Isabella Schultz from Gilboa-Conesville CS for turning out to support the student soloists. Thanks also go out to Alan Ginsburg for taking photographs of the soloists.

The SVCB is a community band open to community, high school and college instrumental musicians. Band rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings from 7-9:30 PM at Cobleskill-Richmondville HS. If you would like to join the band, please contact Conductor Martin Zavadil at zavamart@aol.com or Ed Truax at 518-925-0745.