On Feb. 5, Mounds View will host the Suburban East Conference (SEC) Music Festival, welcoming musicians in band, choir and orchestra from 10 schools across the North and East metro. While non-participating students have an e-learning day, participating ensembles perform designated music for professional clinicians, who evaluate their skills and provide constructive feedback. Rather than competition, the festival emphasizes collaboration and musical development, giving students the opportunity to express their talents while improving their skills. 

Getting ready for the festival takes a lot of time and effort from students. “They’re making sure that they are practicing outside the time that they are allotted for that weekend and being the best musicians they can for that weekend,” said vocal music teacher Sarah Kitzman. 

While the conference provides the designated weekend for students to focus on their music, many continue to practice on their own in advance to perfect tricky sections. “I would practice my rhythm to really please the audience,” said sophomore cellist Ariel Yu. Preparation involves more than just mastering rhythm, but also improving overall accuracy to make sure ensembles sound polished. 

On top of student preparation, Mounds View’s preparation as the host school is even more critical. “As the host school, we have very limited space in our facilities for three ensembles performing at the same time, making sure we have the instruments, food and people in the right places,” Kitzman said. Organizers must prepare both gyms, the auditorium and other facilities to accommodate several groups throughout the day. “There are so many moving pieces, but everyone’s pitching in,” said band teacher Bill Sucha. Coordinating rehearsal spaces, schedules, instrument transport and student movement requires much organization, making volunteers critical to the event’s success. Even with the challenges, hosting this festival is fun for the students and staff involved. “It’s a really cool experience. We’re excited to host it, but we’re also excited that we only have to host it once every 10 years,” Sucha said.

While the performance is an exciting day for many, it comes with many challenges, including for students who play in high-pressure environments in front of large crowds and clinicians. “We select the pieces to work on for the festival, and we work on those before the festival. We also perform those at a concert later in the school year,” Sucha said. Classes practice these pieces regularly and perform them in concerts during the first semester.

Students feel the pressure of the festival, but they are determined to play at their best. “Performing in this crowd is overwhelming, but it’s also exciting,” said sophomore violist Claire Secord. Despite the pressure, students feel inspired to succeed, “I want to represent the school in the best way possible,” said junior violist Paul Wold. 

Teachers also emphasize the importance of representing Mounds View with pride. “They represent the school as a top honor band, choir [or] orchestra student, so if they show up not prepared, they look poor on themselves, and a bad representation of the school,” said Kitzman. “We make sure that they know that they are needed to represent us.”

The SEC Music Festival is more than just a performance. It is the result of hard work, dedication and commitment from students, staff and volunteers. Representing Mounds View’s music program in front of large audiences and clinicians gives students chances to grow. “It’s going to be tough to perform, but it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Secord said.