March is "Music in Our Schools" month. For many area schools, the month of March is usually a busy one with various festivals and contests.
California is no exception to this. For band performances, the middle school band students will be busy at several festivals. The seventh- and eighth-grade band students and a trio of sixth grade band students performed March 2 at the Central Methodist University Music Festival.
There are several March events for the California High School band members. They will perform March 10 at the Tri-County Music Festival at California High School. Then, on March 13, they will perform at the Battle High School Concert Band Festival. On March 16, the high school band students will take part in the MSHSAA Large Ensemble Festival in Jefferson City. The next day, high school students participate in the MSHAA Solo and Small Ensemble Festival.
California vocal music students will participate in two music contests. The first is the Tri-County Conference Contest March 10, to be held in California. The next two Saturdays, March 17 and 24, California vocal students will be in the district contest at Jefferson City.
The Prairie Home School music students are involved in contests. The vocal music students in grades seventh-12th competed at Jamestown in the Cooper County Activities Association Music Contest March 1, with three other conference schools - Higbee, Jamestown and Bunceton.
The school instrumental students are also fortunate enough for the seventh-12th grade band to perform at State Music Festival March 16 at Jefferson City High School. They then perform solo and ensemble performances for the District Music Festival on the following day March 17.
This year, as every year, the Prairie Home contest students will perform March 7 at a recital with a cake and punch reception immediately following. This year, in addition to solos performed by students, the band also will performed.
The Jamestown music students in grades 7-12 competed at the Jamestown School in the CCAA Music Contest March 1. The students presented solo and ensemble performances, as well as performances of the 7-12 grade band, the 9-12 grade choir, the 7-8 grade choir and the 7-8 grade girls choir.
The four High Point students performed March 3 with the West Central District fifth- and sixth-grade honor choir in Warrensburg.