The Plainview Pirate music department was represented at the Class D All-State Music band concert last Saturday, March 19 at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
Ten Plainview youth attended the event, participating in the Jazz, Symphonic and Wind Ensemble for the auditorium full of parents, grandparents, friends and family of the music and arts.
Participating and medaling in the Jazz Band were:
* Brittani Gutz, Alto Saxophone
* Weston Hoffman, Baritone Saxophone
* Abbie Kromarek, Trumpet
* Marlena Curtiss, Trumpet
Participating in the Symphonic Band were (* denotes medalist):
Jordan Mosel, Clarinet
Paige Norris, Alto Saxophone
Leighton Medina, Battery
Corben Kment, Battery
Participating in the Wind Ensemble were (* denotes medalist):
* Caden Ickler, French Horn
* Jay Jay Gaver, Battery
The Jazz Band was conducted by Mark Irvin, a music educator, singer/songwriter, recording artist and freelance musician from Omaha. He was inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame in 2010. His teaching career included 12 years as a high school band director, and 15 as a middle school director. He taught mainly at Irving, La Vista, Gretna and Platteview. He will continue his career teaching at Metro Area Community College and doing clinics and honor bands in the Midwest.
An Omaha Central High School instrumental music teacher, Chiyo Trauernicht, directed the Symphonic Band. She teaches the concert, marching, jazz, percussion, orchestra and guitar classes at Central. She also was the band director at Otte-Blair Middle School. She earned her Bachelor and Masters degrees at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, finishing her certification at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. She also holds a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting from Sam Houston State University.
Matt Sheppard, a retired music educator with 30 years experience, conducted the Wind Ensemble. He currently serves as the Exhibit/Sponsor chair for the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association. Sheppard and his wife are also the tour directors for the Nebraska Ambassadors of Music European Tour, with the next tour in 2023.