Music Program Helps Set Young Musicians on a Life-Long Journey

Deciding to play an instrument or train vocally takes a great deal of patience, drive, and focus.  From a young age it is something that takes time, steady practice, and a love for the process.  Young high school musicians in Belleville know all about how dedication and mentoring have helped them earn the opportunity over their educational career to take to the stage and show how much they have grown over the years.

On February 16th, 17 senior members of the pep band were honored at the boys basketball game.  These students have been involved in the music program for the past seven years and have dedicated many hours and nights in service to the school and community at various events.  Mrs. Meir thanked Will Booth, Lexy Cardoso-Reyes, Aidan Cook, Charlotte Fox, Jacob Jensen-Moyer, Ben Johnson, Elizabeth Lloyd, Savannah Meland, Justin Pauli, Ben Remy, Ryan Schubert, Kaydie Shrader, Alora Spiegel, Megan Stone, and Sofie Veeneman, Amber Nass, and Alexis Radl for their dedication, enthusiasm, and outstanding musicianship throughout the years.

To her graduating students Mrs. Meir says, “Best wishes in your future endeavors!”

As a band director, Meir knows first-hand what it takes to put energy and love for music first and models this for her students as she herself was recently named the “Teacher of the Year” in January at VFW Post 1621 in Janesville, WI.  In this way, Meir shows how one can grow a lifetime through music.  It is an exciting path forward for the musicians she has trained to know it can be a fulfilling journey for those who choose to make it one.

As these graduating seniors have learned, music allows students to step outside their comfort zones whether it is taking the stage at a concert, or preparing a special piece of music that demonstrates skills and knowledge they have as musicians.  To that end, Belleville music students recently participated in Solo and Ensemble – showing they too are on their own musical trek to the excitement of their musical mentors – Mrs. Meir and Mrs. Muellenbach.

As Belleville’s choral director, Mrs. Muellenbach feels the same sense of pride that Mrs. Meir does when her students choose to push themselves and grow musically.

District Administrator Nate Perry is pleased to see Mrs. Muellenbach’s dedication as a new hire this year joining Belleville’s strong tradition of music education.

Perry notes, “Mrs. Muellenbach has had ‘big shoes’ to fill with the history of the Choir program in Belleville.  She has leaned on her many years of previous experience to provide stability to the program.  I was immediately impressed with how her students performed early in the year of the Veterans program.”

On February 24th, 50 members of the Belleville Middle and High School Music Department traveled to Wisconsin Heights to participate in the Capitol Conference South District Solo and Ensemble Festival.

Students who received a rating of a starred first in Class A will be participating in State Solo Ensemble at UW-Platteville on Saturday, April 27th.  Mrs. Meir and Mrs. Muellenbach are extremely proud of their students’ performances and wish to congratulate them all on a job well done!

Belleville Bands

Class A—starred first rating:  Saxophone Choir:  Aidan Cook, Sofie Veeneman, Adam Johnson, Carson Biermeier, Mallory Thompson, Tyler Miyamoto, Alexis Radl, and Adrian Jenkins.

Mallory Thompson, saxophone duet; Alexis Radl, saxophone duet.

Class A—first rating:  Percussion Ensemble:  Aidan Cook, Ariana Keifenheim, Lillian Palmer, Sofie Veeneman, Shannon McCall, Violet Swanson, Gabe Heinz, Ryan Schubert, and Martin Veeneman.

Mallory Thompson, alto sax solo.

Class A—second rating:  Lukas Loshaw, piano solo.

Class B—first rating:  Woodwind Ensemble:  Aidan Cook, Abby Kaetterhenry, Sofie Veeneman, Belen Jarquin Calderon, Alora Spiegel, Mallory Thompson, Faith Waefler, Savannah Meland, Alexis Radl, and Lexy Cardoso-Reyes.

Jazz Ensemble:  Mallory Thompson, Sofie Veeneman, Adam Johnson, Tyler Miyamoto, Alexis Radl, Adrian Jenkins, Ben Johnson, Elizabeth Lloyd, Jacob Jensen-Moyer, Alora Spiegel, Ben Remy, Keegan Dohm, Lexy Cardoso-Reyes, Abby Kaetterhenry, Savannah Meland, Lillian Hanna, Ryan Schubert, Lillian Palmer, Will Booth.

Will Booth, brass quartet; Ben Johnson, brass quartet; Ben Remy, brass quartet; Keegan Dohm, brass quartet.

Class B—second rating:  Faith Waefler, clarinet solo.

Class C—first rating:  Evie Vesperman, clarinet solo; Thea Elsner, clarinet solo; Danny Tuck, trumpet duet; Zander Jorenby, trumpet duet; Frankie Endres, tenor sax solo.

Belleville Choirs

Class A—starred first rating:  Vocal Solos - Lillian Palmer (classical), Abe Chavez (musical theater), Cameron Frey (musical theater), Alexis Radl (classical and musical theater), Tim Fleener (classical), Owen Fahey (classical and musical theater).

Class A—first rating:  Vocal Solos - Tim Fleener (musical theater), Cameron Frey (classical), Lillian Hanna (musical theater), Abe Chavez (classical).

Vocal Jazz Ensemble:  Lillian Hanna, Lillian Palmer, Cameron Frey, Tim Fleener, Keegan Dohm, Owen Fahey, Gavin Burchard, Jacob Jensen-Moyer, Lexy Cardoso-Reyes, Savannah Meland, Adrianna Fleener, Abby Kaetterhenry.

Class A—second rating:  Vocal Solos - Lillian Hanna (classical), Lexy Cardoso-Reyes (classical and musical theater), Sarah Keifenheim (classical), Lillian Palmer (musical theater), Savannah Meland (classical and musical theater), Adrianna Fleener (classical), Shannon McCall.

Vocal Duet - Cameron Frey and Adrianna Fleener.

Vocal Quartet - Savannah Meland, Lexy Cardoso-Reyes, Lillian Palmer and Abby Kaetterhenry.

Class B—first rating:  Vocal Solos - Sofie Tuck, Bryson Croft.

Vocal Duets - Evelyn and Elise Mehta.

Class B—second rating:  Vocal Solos - Zella Palmer.

Vocal Duet - Adrianna Fleener and Sarah Keifenheim, Lillian Palmer and Zella Palmer.

Class C—first rating:  Vocal Solos - Evie Vesperman.