Percussionists Take 2nd At State

INDIANAPOLIS - Warsaw Community High School can claim at least two state runner-up championships this school year.

The first was for girls basketball.

The second came Saturday when the WCHS Percussion Ensemble placed second in the World Concert Class competition at the Indiana State Percussion Association state finals at Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis.

WCHS' second place came with two scores of 89.15 each for their performance of "Piano Sonata No. 1." Franklin Central won the state championship with their rendition of "Mount Olympic," receiving scores of 92.35 and 92.35.

"I think it's great," said Mickey Ratliff, WCHS band director, of the scores. "I think the kids got what they deserved. I think it might have been nice for the scores to go up compared to last week (at state preliminaries), but all the groups' scores went down about the same. It's all relative. It's been a nice way to end what's been a fun season."

The group this year, he said, shared many laughs and the music was fun to work on.

"It's a good way to end it," he said.

At state preliminary competition March 13 at Avon High School, the ensemble received a score of 91.3, only 2.9 points less than top-seeded Franklin Central.

According to the judges' scores at state competition Saturday, Ratliff said, "Everyone had us real close to first place." One judge had a bigger gap between the teams than the others, but on average, most of the judges had Warsaw's team only one to 1-1/2 points away from first.

Next year, the percussion team is losing only two percussion seniors - Chelsy Albertson and Adria Gosney.

"I think the group has a lot of potential" for next year, Ratliff said, especially with a good class of incoming freshmen. He said the potential to build from this year to next year's ensemble is "really great."

Of the state competition, Albertson said, "It's sad because I don't want it to end. Good times come to an end, I guess. It was a good way to end - going out strong."

From her years of being on the percussion team, she said, "I've become a better musician overall."

"I thought it went well," Gosney said of the state competition.

She said what helped the team to do better this year was figuring out how to get along.

"This year," agreed Albertson, "we listened more to each other and played as an ensemble."

"I thought our performance was really good," said Brandi Reis, a junior and first-year member of the ensemble.

She said she decided to join the team when she went to state competition last year and saw how Warsaw's squad competed. She knew she wanted to be a part of it.

This year, actually being a part of the percussion ensemble, she said, she was more nervous because "it meant a lot more."

Next year, however, "I want to win state," but, she said, she knows the objective is to push the younger team members to do their best.

Sophomore Cyrus Felton is a second-year veteran of the ensemble.

"This year was a lot better than last year. We performed better as a group, we had more fun."

As for being nervous, he said, "No, actually, I was real excited to get out and play."

As for next year, he said, "Just hopefully, we'll have fun. I'll miss the seniors because they showed us the way. I'm looking forward to it."

"It was awesome," Jenny Foy, junior and second-year member, said. "Not only did we perform our best, but we performed as a group, as a family."

Also, compared to last year, Foy said, "We strived a lot harder. We worked more at being friends, a family, than just an ensemble. It's very important. If you can't get along as friends, it's hard to perform as an ensemble."

"I think we have a lot of potential and can improve greatly if we work hard enough," said sophomore Eric Green, second-year member.

"It was intense. It was exhilarating. It was suspenseful. It was like a good movie," said James Trafny, sophomore and first-year member of his first experience at state competition.

In 2003, Warsaw's percussion ensemble placed third; second in 2002; and first in 2001.

For a chance to hear the percussion ensemble, there are two more opportunities.

On April 30, the team will host Britain Moore, a percussion duo, at Lakeview Middle School at 7 p.m. WCHS' percussion team also will perform with the duo and play "Piano Sonata No. 1."

The last chance to catch the state runner-up team is Drum Enchanted Evening, May 14, at Lakeview at 7:30 p.m.