Members of the WHS Honors and Intermediate orchestras performing at MPA.
On Friday, March 10, the Watauga High School Honors and Intermediate Orchestras performed at MPA (Music Performance Adjudication) at Atkins High School and received a “Superior” score in both performance and sightreading categories. The group performed 3 pieces by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev graded 4 out of 6: “Troika” from the film “Lieutenant Kije”, “Gavotte” from Prokofiev’s “Symphony No. 1”, and “Classical Finale” from Prokofiev’s “Symphony No. 1”.
At MPA, high school vocal and instrumental ensembles perform music for a group of judges to receive scores and feedback on their performances and sight read. Ensembles can choose to perform music ranging in difficulty from grade level 1 to 6.
“We play our concert for three judges and they will adjudicate us. We’re looking for a good score out of our performance,” said WHS Orchestra conductor Will Selle. “The judges are always well-known and esteemed musicians, composers, and conductors, so the scores that they give us are very musically rich and full of critiques and improvements, and we take that along with us for the rest of our school year as we continue to grow.”
For the WHS orchestras, MPA is a chance to develop their performance and music-making skills through feedback from knowledgeable judges. Besides being a chance to improve their skills, MPA is a long-standing tradition for the orchestras at WHS.
“It builds our sense of teamwork and camaraderie and it’s a way to give us a good goal to work towards in the spring,” said Selle. “It’s a tradition we uphold each year.”
To prepare for MPA, both orchestras rehearsed independently, together, and performed together at the WHS Pre-MPA Concert.
“We practiced a lot for this,” said freshman cellist Ava Larned. “At MPA, we get to learn how to play better and have better posture.”
Members of the WHS Honors and Intermediate
orchestras sight reading at MPA.
To achieve a “Superior”, the highest possible score, ensembles must perform their pieces with technical accuracy, musicality, accurate intonation, appropriate stage deportment, and more.
“To get a good score, we have to play the right notes, work together, and have good posture,” said freshman violinist Harley Issacs. “We have to work pretty hard.”
For Selle, MPA is an opportunity for the orchestras to showcase their abilities and mature as a team.
“I hope that our students can find the focus to rise as mature musicians, play together as a team, and just be a sweet member of our orchestra family,” said Selle.
Members of the WHS Honors and Intermediate after achieving a “Superior” at MPA.
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