Yutan High School

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DISTRICT MUSIC CONTEST
By Jordan Zauha

Watching your kids perform has never been easier for Yutan parents. April, 23, 2010 will mark the third straight year Yutan has hosted district music contest. While most kids and parents only experience the events of the day, a large amount of work and effort goes into making the packed day run smoothly.

Band instructor Doug Ramsey assumes many of the primary responsibilities. A few of these include communicating with the NSAA, the 16 schools who attend and the assigned judges. He also needs to create the master schedule for the bands, choirs, soloists and small ensembles.

“It’s always a challenge,” Ramsey said. Making sure the more than 250 entries don’t conflict and move smoothly takes plenty of time and patience.

Ramsey also enjoys some of the perks, like the golf carts that he uses as transportation.

“That’s my pride and joy: the golf carts,” Ramsey said.

But by no means is Ramsey alone. Members of Yutan’s Fine Arts Boosters and Yutan staff members help run this annual event. Many dedicate their time in various ways. A few of the boosters collect and count score sheets in the main office at the elementary school. They also run concessions for the day.

Students see many positives to hosting the music contest. The class of 2010 will be the last class to have experienced district music contest outside of Yutan, namely Oakland-Craig.

“I like how we had transportation between the buildings,” senior Kayla Ambrose said. Buses transfer students from the high school to St. John’s Lutheran Church to the elementary and back on a rotating basis. In comparison, walking between buildings in the town of Oakland contributed to many late starts in performances.

“I think kids from the other schools appreciate it,” Ambrose said.

Ambrose also said that the home field advantages, such as knowing exactly where the rooms are and having two homerooms, are pluses as well.

In the end, plenty of dedication by many people goes into making this annual event an enjoyable one for students.