Superior music groups play free concerts

Spring concerts are coming up where it can be seen - and heard - the reason Carson Valley music students consistently receive top ratings in competition.

Free concerts featuring the award-winning bands and choruses of Douglas High School and Pau-Wa-Lu and Carson Valley middle schools are held Thursday and on May 31, June 1 and June 6.

The Douglas High School concert and marching bands each were rated first-place Nevada bands in the Encinal Extravaganza Tournament in Alameda, Calif., on Saturday.

"The biggest part of the competition was that the concert band took second overall," said Douglas Music Director Bill Zabelsky. "There was nothing they could have done to be better. They got a superior rating."

In the marching competition, Douglas placed first in music and was third place overall in a field of 42 marching bands.

Drum Major Andy Martin was the second-place overall drum major.

The majority of the Valley's bands and choruses placed first or took superior ratings in the Music in the Parks competition in Vacaville, Calif., on May 12.

Douglas High School's concert choir placed first in the division and received an excellent rating. The Image Jazz Choir was first with a good rating.

The Douglas Jazz Band received first place and took home the sweepstakes award as best overall. The entire trumpet section was picked as "best soloist."

The Madrigal choir was first with a superior rating and took home the sweepstakes trophy for best choir overall.

Carson Valley Middle School's chorus, under the direction of Per Rasmussen, took first place with a superior rating at Music in the Parks competition. The advanced band also was first with an excellent rating and the seventh-grade band was fourth with a good rating.

"My advanced band got a superior rating and first-place in their division," said Pau-Wa-Lu Music Director Kevin Sady. "The chorus got first-place and did very well."

Sady said the two middle schools and high school band all march together in the Carson Valley Days parade.

"It's a good way to recruit middle school students into the high school program." said Sady. "We're building an environment where kids can be. We have to keep the music programs alive in the schools."

Spring band concerts:

n Douglas High School Concert Choir, Madrigals and Image Jazz Choir

7 p.m. Thursday at Douglas, 1670 Highway 395, Minden, 782-5136

n Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School Concert Band

7 p.m. May 31 at Pau-Wa-Lu, 701 Long Valley Road, Gardnerville, 265-6100

n Douglas High School Jazz and Concert Bands

7 p.m. June 1 at Douglas, 1670 Highway 395, Minden, 782-5136

n Carson Valley Middle School Concert Band

7:30 p.m. June 6, Carson Valley Middle School, 1475 Highway 395, Gardnerville, 782-2265

Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School Rummage Sale/Car Wash:

7 a.m.-2 p.m. June 3

Drop items off at Pau-Wa-Lu.

701 Long Valley Road, Gardnerville. 265-6100