Norwell Musicians Provide Special Performance

Last Thursday (Feb. 19) Norwell music students held a special concert to show the parents and community what the students had prepared to perform at the District ISSMA Solo/Ensemble. This is a state run competition in which students perform in a solo setting or in small-to-large groups for medals.

All of the students were required to participate and perform as part of an ensemble (not less than three people) that was assigned by Mr. Hassell. The students were also allowed to perform in another ensemble or a solo if they chose to.

Students in the intermediate band, made up of freshmen and sophomores, were to prepare a solo/ensemble piece no lower than Group III in difficulty. The students in the advanced band made up of juniors and seniors were to prepare a solo/ensemble piece from the Group I list. (Group I items being the most difficult.)

All of the percussion students, a group consisting of freshmen through seniors, were to prepare and be a part of a Group I Large Percussion Ensemble piece. All of the percussion ensemble members were required to prepare a solo on any instrument of their choice. The sophomores and the freshmen were to prepare a piece no lower than a Group II level of difficulty and the juniors and seniors were to prepare a piece from the Group I list of difficulty.

The students that performed received ratings of gold, silver, or bronze based on their performances. The students that received a gold rating were allowed to perform at ISSMA State in Indianapolis on Saturday (Feb. 21). Unfortunately, Mr. Hassell decided to cancel the performances of the Norwell students due to inclement weather conditions. The competition did go on in Indianapolis, just not with the Norwell students this year.

The jazz band also performed at the concert at Norwell. They will be performing at a jazz festival next month in Fort Wayne. The group showcased a freshman alto sax player by the name of Taylor Abdon.

Special thanks to Mrs. Tomi Harrison for providing the photo and also information relating to the event.

Coolman Wins Oustanding Soloist For Raider Rhythm

Raider Rhythm came up against some very tough competition at Indian Springs on Friday evening, but Bekah Coolman (pictured) was able to pick up the individual Outstanding Female Soloist award. Talishia Holloway won the Outstanding Performer award for Raider Rhythm.

Adams Central Independents Place 4th at Snider

The Adams Central Independents placed 4th for the second consecutive weekend, competing at Snider on Saturday, placing behind East Noble (60 points), Wabash (59.2) and Fort Wayne Northside (59). Adams Central scored 58 points.

Pictured above, Jenny Harris-Steele and Jennifer Harrison, both of Norwell, await the start of their routine.

The Independents travel to Anderson Highland this weekend for their final regular season competition, but will be back home afterward to perform at the closing of the Norwell Drum Line Competition.

Many thanks once again to Mrs. Tomi Harrison for the winter guard photo (and results info.)

Knight Moves Tops Again!

Norwell's Knight Moves made it two-from-two Saturday at Center Grove as they won their second Grand Champion title in Small Mixed Division competition from two appearances. The Knight Moves also placed first runner-up in the overall competition.

The Knight Stars were pipped by Mundelein (northern suburb of Chicago) in the Women's Division, finishing first runner-up.

Blake Lampton placed second in solo competition with "Anthem".

Season records for Norwell's show choirs are now as follows:

Knight Moves - 10-0 with two Grand Champion titles.
Knight Stars - 10-1 with one Grand Champion title.

Read the full story in Monday's edition of News-Banner (Feb. 23.)

On Feb. 28, Norwell compete at Edgewood (near Bloomington) High School's "Contest of Champions."

Thanks to Norwell Music Boosters for providing the photo (and results.)

Schedule For Norwell Drum Line Invitational (Feb. 28)

Norwell High School will host its Drum Line Invitational, Saturday Feb. 28, with the performances starting at 2 p.m. (Norwell performs at 8:12 p.m.)

Admission will be $5.

The performance schedule is as follows:

PSCA Class (Concert Drum Lines):
2:00 p.m. Elkhart Central
2:09 p.m. Fairfield
2:18 p.m. Elkhart Memorial
2:27 p.m. Angola
2:36 p.m. Jay County "Red Group"
2:45 p.m. Plymouth
2:54 p.m. Jay County "Blue Group"
3:03 p.m. Northridge
3:12 p.m. Break for nine minutes
3:21 p.m. Columbia City
3:30 p.m. Leo
3:39 p.m. Yorktown
3:48 p.m. Pioneer
3:57 p.m. Monroe Central
4:06 p.m. Logansport
4:15 p.m. Twin Lakes
4;30 p.m. Awards Ceremony for PSCA Class

PSA Class:
5:10 p.m. Zionsville
5;19 p.m. Eastern (Greentown)
5:28 p.m. Hagerstown
5:37 p.m. Carroll
5:46 p.m. Orleans
5:55 p.m. Pike
6:04 p.m. Break for nine minutes
6:13 p.m. Winchester
6:22 p.m. Maconaquah
6:31 p.m. Pendleton Heights
6:40 p.m. Bishop Dwenger

PIA Class:
6:49 p.m. Breach of Silence
6:58 p.m. Heritage Independent Percussion
7:07 p.m. Break for five minutes

PSCO Class (Concert Drum Lines):
7:12 p.m. Westfield
7:22 p.m. Hamilton Southeastern
7:32 p.m. Warsaw

PSO Class:
7:42 p.m. Dekalb
7:52 p.m. Lake Central
8:02 p.m. Decatur Central
8:12 p.m. Norwell
8:22 p.m. Break for five minutes

PSCW Class (Concert Drum Lines):
8:27 p.m. Goshen

PSW Class:
8:38 p.m. Fishers

9:00 p.m. Awards

Thanks to Mrs. Tomi Harrison for the photo.

Weekend Showtime - Feb. 20-21

Three Wells County show choirs and the Adams Central Independents Winter Guard which includes seven Norwell students will be in action over the weekend.

Raider Rhythm show choir from Southern Wells will be the first on stage, competing at Indian Springs Middle School, just south of Columbia City on Friday evening. They take the stage at approximately 8:30 p.m. (See the feature story in the News-Banner, Friday, Feb. 20 for more about the Southern Wells show choir program, and a few other bits and pieces of information from the Raider's music department.)

Norwell's Knight Moves and Knight Stars show choirs will be competing at Center Grove in the Small Mixed and Women's Divisions on Saturday. Director Carla Doles also has her eyes on the overall Grand Champion title for the Knight Moves!

And the Independants will be in action at Snider High School in Fort Wayne, also on Saturday.

Good luck to all Wells County performers. I'm sure we'll have a bunch of great results to write about in Monday's News-Banner (and on this site!)

....and more still of the Knight Moves!

Wow, what a great weekend.

One huge show choir invitational with choirs from all three Wells County Schools in the thick of the action, plus drum line and winter guard squads, and everyone finishing the weekend with some great results!

Well done to everyone involved!!!

........ more of the Knight Moves at the Norwell Invitational.

Knight Moves at Norwell Invitational

While the judges were tabulating their final results, Norwell's Knight Moves kept the crowd entertained with an exhibition performance at the end of the final session.

The Knight Moves will be competing at Center Grove (Feb. 21), Edgewood (Feb. 28), Shelbyville (March 7) and Homestead (March 14) over the next few weeks.

..... and some more of the Knight Stars!

Norwell Knight Stars at Norwell Show Choir Invitational

As host school Norwell's Knight Stars weren't able to contest the Women's Division at the 2009 Norwell Show Choir Invitational, but they provided an exhibition performance at the end of the preliminary session.

The Knight Stars will be competing at Center Grove (Feb. 21), Edgewood (Feb. 28), Shelbyville (March 7) and Homestead (March 14) over the next few weeks.

Raider Rhythm at Norwell Show Choir Invitational

Raider Rhythm flew the flag for Southern Wells at the 2009 Norwell Show Choir Invitational, and were first runner-up in the Middle Schol Division behind Indian Springs City Stars.

Raider Rhythm will compete at Indian Springs (near Columbia City) this Friday night (Feb. 20), and also is scheduled to perform at Kings Island on May 16.

Norwell Knight Sounds at Norwell Invitational

As host school, Norwell's Knight Sounds were unable to compete in Saturday's Middle School Division, but the group led the competition off with an exhibition performance of its routine.

The Knight Sounds will be competing at Edgewood (Feb. 28) and Homestead (March 14) over the next few weeks.

...... and a few more photos of Musical Entourage at Norwell

Photos of Bluffton's Musical Entourage at Norwell Invitational

Bluffton's Musical Entourage was the first of the Wells County Show Choirs to perform at Saturday's 2009 Norwell Show Choir Invitational. They contested the Small Mixed Choir Division and placed second runner-up behind Whiteland's Rhythm Masters and Southwestern's Esprit.

This is the first year that Musical Entourage have been led by Elyse Breeding. Musical Entourage will be competing at Franklin Central (Feb. 28) and Homestead (March 14) over the next few weeks.

New Winter Guard Places Fourth at Heritage

It might only have been their second competition, but the Adams Central Independents Winter Guard, which includes seven Norwell High School students, placed fourth of 13 teams in their (AAA) class at Heritage on Saturday. They were only 3.5 points behind competition winners, Heritage.

Final Results:
1- Heritage JV (59.6 points)
2- Wabash  (57.5)
3- Woodlan  (56.7)
4- Adams Central Independents  (56.1)
5- Plymouth (52.8)

The Independents will travel to Snider Saturday for their next competition.

The photos (from Heritage) above show:

1: Brittany Satterthwaite (back to camera) leads out the Adams Central Independents, with four Norwell students right behind.
Jenny Harris-Steele, Josey Dies, Megan Jackson and Jennifer Harrison are all set to perform. Mike Satterthwaite makes sure the equipment comes too!

2: Jennifer Harrison, Luke Ellis and Kaylee Stauufer, all from Norwell, and Kirstie Andrews from Adams Central go through their steps.

3: Adams Central independents strut their stuff!

4: Rifle drills with Jennifer Harrison (Norwell), Jenny Harris-Steele (Norwell), Liz Goebel (Bellmont), Keaton Becher (Adams Central), Leesha Culp (Bellmont) and Shaunna Branstetter (Adams Central)

5: Bria Hyland and Josey Dies, both of Norwell, perform part of the dance routine.

Many thanks to Mrs. Tomi Harrison for the photos.

Northrop Take Top Honors at 2009 Norwell Show Choir Invitational

Northrop's Charisma took Grand Champion honors at Norwell's 19th Annual Show Choir Invitational Saturday, edging out defending champions, the Chesterton Sandpipers.

Check out Monday's (Feb. 16) News-Banner for the full story.

Pictured above, are:

1: Northrop choir members and supporters celebrate with their trophy.

2: Northrop finish their routine on top of their piano and the competition. In addition to their top placing, Northrop picked up caption awards for Best Chorerogaphy and Best Instrumentals

3: Chesterton, with their dancing camel, gave Charisma a tight race, Chesterton dominated the vocal caption awards, taking the group award and also Best Male Soloist (Max Sangerman) and Best Female Soloist (Kaylee Annable).

Bluffton claimed second runner-up in the Small Mixed Choir Division and Southern Well's Raider Rhythym placed first runner-up in the Middle School Division.

Norwell's three choirs performed exhibitions of their routines.

More (lots more) photos from the event will be posted over the next few days.