RBHS Chamber Orchestra and Wind Symphony will perform at the 86th annual Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) Conference at Margaritaville Resort in Lake of the Ozarks. Both ensembles were selected through video auditions submitted by Jun. 1, 2023 and will perform on Thursday, Jan. 25, the entire conference spanning from Jan. 22 to Jan. 27. 

This is the first time that two RBHS ensembles have been selected to perform at MMEA in the same year. Wind Symphony will be the first RBHS ensemble to perform at 10:15 a.m., followed by Chamber Orchestra at 2:15 p.m..

Applying to MMEA began last school year. RBHS Orchestra Director Alison Lankheit said the audition required the submission of three different pieces performed by each ensemble. Both RBHS ensembles used three pieces from the 2022-2023 school year for the audition. 

“Mr. Sullivan (RBHS Band Director) and I had talked about [applying] in the previous year, so we knew that we were both applying,” Lankheit said. “Then it just so happened that we were both accepted. Since the videos were judged through blind auditions, the judges don’t know the ensemble, like which school the [group] is from, and they only listen to the music. The fact that both groups were chosen really shows the merit that we were selected upon.” 

In preparation for the performance, Chamber Orchestra and Wind Symphony have been practicing their pieces since the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. Senior cellist Jannis Buecking said all of the RBHS concerts — the Fall concert, Winter Concert, Holiday Taping and Send-off Concert – helped him in many ways in preparation for the MMEA performance.

“[Chamber Orchestra] plays through all the pieces, making sure that everything is continuing to flow smoothly with the correct details,” Buecking said. “Over the past weekend, I was practicing difficult sections daily, like in places with lots of accidentals and runs, and maintaining good thumb position.” 

During the conference, both ensembles will perform four pieces each. Chamber Orchestra will perform “Idyll for String Orchestra – V. Adagio” by Leoš Janáček, “Five Fantastück – III. Humoresque” by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, “String Quartet No. 4 – I. Allegro Moderato” by Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-Georges and “Serenade for String Nonet in D minor – IV. Allegro con fuoco” by Gyula Beliczay. Wind Symphony will perform “Outlander” by Julie Giroux, “Hold This Boy and Listen” by Carter Pann, “Concerto for Clarinet” by Artie Shaw, arranged by Ted Parson, and “Tico Tico” by Zequinha de Abreu, arranged by Naohiro Iwai. 

Close to 200 ensembles applied to MMEA, and only 33 ensembles were selected. Each of the selected ensembles will have a 30 minute time limit to perform their pieces. RBHS Principal Jacob Sirna will introduce each ensemble, and the performances will follow. 

Both ensembles have unique features in their performances. Chamber Orchestra will perform “Idyll for String Orchestra – V. Adagio” without their conductor (Lankheit) in a true chamber group setting. Wind Symphony will feature University of Missouri — Columbia Professor Wesley Warnhoff playing the clarinet solo in “Concerto for Clarinet.” Wind Ensemble percussionist Brayden Boone said he looks forward to the performance day. 

“It is such an amazing experience,” Boone said. “I’m excited to play [alongside] other musicians across the state that are also dedicated to music. [My favorite] part to play is the snare [drums].”

The MMEA performances will not be open to the public, as guest badges were only available for purchase by family members. There will be an opportunity, however, to purchase a digital recording of the concert in the several weeks following the performance.

“The best thing about MMEA is seeing the way other people manage their [music] programs and hearing different music that RBHS has never performed before,” Lankheit said. “It’s such a cool thing to work, play and learn from each other. I’m just excited that our students have this whole opportunity. It’s such a valuable experience.”

Have you attended any of the RBHS ensemble performances this year? Let us know in the comments below.