Their own (not so little) world

story by Bree Moore ≫

For students, music is an enjoyment for others to listen to and are striving to make the music world better for our schools. The musical students work hard to make EHS’ music programs improve.

Our fellow choir students sing daily as a group to improve their voices. It takes time to find the ability and dedication for music and to stick with it.

Lindsey Fry, Jr., has been into music almost her entire life, it’s something she has really enjoyed doing. Fry is in the Eudora select women’s choir in Cantorei, and also plays the piano. As a Eudora choir student, Fry feels like there are so many opportunities students can have. She has been in Cantorei, the fall musical, the winter play, taken solos to contest and even taken music lessons.

“With choir, you don’t always get out what you put into it,” Fry said, “Especially with contests and auditions. You may feel like you worked so hard and performed the best you’ve ever performed, and not get the rating or the part you wanted. That’s just how it is. That’s also what makes it so special when you do accomplish something. And for me, every opportunity makes me want to work harder because this is just something I love doing.”

Music students often refer to performing in judged competitions as “Contest”. For students, contests can be very nerve racking. These contests involve performing in front of judges and receiving ratings based on their performance.   It’s frustrating to Fry when they start working on the nit-picky performance details of a piece. It helps her fix her problems, but she gets to a point where she says to herself there’s no way she can perform this in front of anyone.Fry can become incredibly stressed, but, that’s when she reminds herself to take a step back, and look at how far she’s come.

Brooke Kornmueller, Frosh., is a Cantorei singer in the soprano section, singing for almost nine years now. She loves that she’s been given the opportunity to open her voice out on stage. Each day Kornmueller works not only as an individual, but works hard to blend with her choir.

Contest is a big part for choirs, and Cantori has the determination as a group to bond together and sing as one.  They are prepared to show what they have been working on all semester and make their choir directors proud.

“Eudora choir is amazing because all the girls in my class bond and connect on many levels,” said Kornmueller, “We are like sisters. And the events that we have performed at we have done exceptional and I am very proud of this choir, and how far we have excelled this year.”.

Brayden Yoder-Mulkey, Soph., has been in band for seven years. He started off with piano lessons as a young kid and has been continuing his music career ever since.

“The work in band varies. Taking a solo or auditioning to district or state is hard work,” Yoder-Mulkey says. “To make it in and get good rating in those you have to practice almost everyday.

“I am also in Fountain City Youth Brass Band which requires daily practice as well. During the times that I don’t have any competition to practice for (which is almost never) I probably practice twice a week.” said Yoder-Mulkey.

Yoder-Mulkey feels that the Eudora District band has a lot of talented students and he is impressed by the hard work that happens throughout the year. Practice takes time and dedication, and he has stayed with band for years now and plans to keep with it.

Isabel Barrera, Soph., has been a band member for six years now; playing the flute, piccolo, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, learning the bassoon and plans to learn to play more instruments. Barrera has fallen in love with honors band. On some days, a group of them get sheet music and come up with a beautiful piece to play for the class, to have a little fun and take a break for contest music and contest music. For Barrera though, contest is really important. Band has gotten a straight one rating for the last couple of years and it is important for her and hopefully her group thinks the same way to keep that reputation.

“My stress level in band is relatively low because we all cooperate with Mr. Johnson but when it gets to competition/concert stuff our minds get kind of all over the place,” said Barrera.