As another month begins in 2024, the Mid-Prairie Music Department can reflect on a busy, but successful January.

It all began on January 6 with six middle school students auditioning for the Southeast Iowa Band Association Honor Band. Fiona McClellen and Danie Bohlen were both accepted on alto saxophone and clarinet respectively. The two performed with other southeast Iowa students in a sold-out show on Saturday, January 20.

On January 11, Mid-Prairie’s fifth grade students had their first ever band performance. Directed by Shawn Sandersfeld, the performance had been in the works since September and now has the approximately 70 students already looking forward to their next concert in April.

At the High School level, the Jazz Band experienced two memorable performances. The first was at the Open Concert Cafe in Cedar Rapids on January 23. Later that week, the Mid-Prairie Jazz Band competed in the Iowa High School Music Association’s State Jazz Band Concert, where they received a division 1 or superior rating. Jazz Band performers include Madi Davidson, Annika Poll, Jesse Stultz, Thomas Leuck, Joe Hall, Marissa Parks, Jarrett TeBockhorst, Isabelle Duvall, Hunter Miller, Ema Miller, Aliza Parks, Jacob Carillo, Eli Conrad, Brayden Miller, Isadora Goode, Logan McClellen, Arthur Righter, Max Kipp, Brock Lowenberg, Abby Fleming, Dessa Poll, and Jillian Clark.

The next major event for Mid-Prairie music will be its Pops & Pie Concert on February 29.