Page 8 — Thursday, May 19, 2022 — The Hastings Banner
Bands to perform at Plaza
Palooza fundraiser Tuesday
Event replaces Concert in the Hayfield
The Hastings High School band will be
performing alongside community mem-
bers in the Thornapple Jazz Orchestra at
Thornapple Plaza in downtown Hastings
as part of the Plaza Palooza event from 5
to 7 p.m. May 24.
Jen Ewers, co-band director for Hast-
ings Area Schools, said Plaza Palooza is
replacing the “Concert in the Hayfield”
event taking place in years past due to
logistical issues.
The Thornapple Jazz Orchestra will
start playing at 5 p.m., with the Hastings
High School Band playing at 6 p.m. The
latter group will include current eighth-
grade student musicians
A silent auction fundraiser for the schoolband will be taking place during the event,
as well.
“It’s a big fundraiser for us,” Ewers
said. “It’s a chance for our younger players
to play with our high schoolers, and it rais-
es funds.”
Rehearsal for the event will be taking
place May 23, 7 p.m. in the Hastings
High School band room. Community
members interested in performing at the
event may email Ewers at jennifer.
[email protected].
“It’s a really cool event. It’s just a wide
variety of people playing in a really big
group. I mean we’re going to have over
200 people playing on the stage. We’re not
sure how that’s going to fit yet.”HHS Varsity Singers, Sonos receive top ratings at state festival
Every year, several of the Hastings Choirs
attend the Michigan School Vocal Music
Association District Choral festivals hosted
around the district. High ratings at the district
level is required to advance to the state level
Hastings hosted a district festival site at the
Hastings Performing Arts Center Feb. 24.
Sonos, the advanced treble ensemble, and
the Varsity Singers, the advanced mixed
ensemble, each performed two songs each at
district, received a clinic on their performance,
and were adjudicated for their sight reading.
The Varsity Singers and Sonos both
received high ratings, and were given the
option of attending MSVMA State Festival.
Members of Sonos and Varsity Singers
both elected to attend, despite busy schedules
at the beginning of May with sports, concerts
and Advanced Placement testing, Hastings
Vocal Music Director Andrew Moore said.
The adjudication at the state level is more
rigorous, he said. Although there is no sight
reading, qualifying choirs are required to
bring three musical selections, and at least
one selection must be unaccompanied (no
piano or other pitched instrument). Pianist
Mark Ramsey has been the choirs’ accompa-
nist.The two Hastings vocal groups traveled to
Alma College May 10 to sing at the state festi-
val. Unfortunately, Moore said, Ramsey was
unable to attend due to illness, so Robert
Edwards of Grand Rapids stepped in with 24
hours’ notice to accompany Sonos. The Varsity
Singers did not require an accompanist because
all of its repertoire was unaccompanied.
Sonos performed “Buttermilk Hill” by
James C. Myers, “Barter” by Rene Clausen,
and “ Jesu Rex Admirabilis ” by Giovanni
Pierluigi da Palestrina at 3 p.m.
At 4 p.m., the Varsity Singers sang “ Alma
Redemptoris Mater ” also by Giovanni Pierlu-igi da Palestrina, “Sing Me to Heaven” by
Daniel Gawthrop, and “ Daemon Irrepit Call-
idus ” by Gyorgy Orban. After their allotted
15-minute performance slots, each choir
received feedback from a clinician. The
ensembles were given insight on taking their
music and their musicianship to the next level
and were highly receptive to the feedback.
The judges, apparently, were receptive to
the Hastings choral performances.
“State festival ratings are based on scores
out of 30, and choirs must average 24 out of
30 in order to receive a first division,” Moore
said. “Varsity and Sonos averaged over 27out of 30 from each judge, and summarily
received a first division – excellent for their
performances.
‘Neither choir has been able to attend state
festival in years for a variety of reasons,
including scheduling complications and
COVID, so it is highly rewarding for these
choirs to return to this prestigious event and
achieve at a high level.”
The Treble Chorale also attended district
and received a high second division rating, and
the eighth-grade choir from Hastings Middle
School attended the Middle School Choral
Festival and received a first division rating.Varsity Singers and Sonos choir members are happy to be invited to perform for the state festival at Alma College. (Photo by Bob Gaskill)Hastings CTE class reveals
completed barn build
Hunter McLaren
Staff Writer
Hastings High School career and technical
education students revealed the results of
their barn building project May 18.
Nineteen students involved in construction
programs at the school built a pole barn for
Hastings residents John and Karleen Birman,
who sponsored this year’s program and pro-
vided the space for the barn to be built.
“The kids have been great,” Karleen said.
“They’ve been super respectful and very
accommodating. It’s been a super cool expe-
rience to be able to turn your property into a
classroom for the kids so they can learn.”
Jason Hoefler, Hastings construction trades
teacher, said students built the barn from the
ground up, gathering supplies and building
materials themselves from Barry County
Lumber. They also worked on other projects
throughout the year, including a shed and
several projects through the Michigan Indus-
trial Technology Education Society.
Hoefler expressed his thanks for the sup-
port from school administrators as well assponsors, present and past, who have provid-
ed students with a place to learn.
“I’d like to thank our administration for
being supportive of the program and being at
events like this to show the kids they know
they’re doing good work,” Hoefler said.
“And I’d like to thank the sponsors, again, if
they don’t stick their neck out and say, ‘Yeah,
I want kids to build a barn for me,’ then we
don’t have a place to do this.”
The class is assisted by an advisory com-
mittee made up of local professionals who
help guide the program by offering sugges-
tions for what skills they would like to see in
the workforce. Committee members include
Cheyanne Roush from Barry County Lumber;
Nick Larabee from Leaping Lizards Land-
scaping; Chris Morgan from Morgan Electric;
Devin Dilno From Thornapple Concrete; Cole
Hansbarger from 517 Heating Co.; Ben Fer-
rell from Advantage Plumbing; Andy Foy
from JMJ, Inc.; Rob Pohl from Pohl Resto-
ration; Ken Lambeth from Kenny Lee Build-
ers; and Zane Belson from Hickey Electric.
“They help us keep abreast of what’s goingon out there in the industry and what they
need and employees,” Hoefler said of the
local professionals. “They are our consultants
for the program.”
Ed Domke, CTE director for the district,
said the barn-building experience is one of a
kind and can help students learn in a way that
more traditional classes cannot.
“We always have great students in our
career tech education programs,” Domke said.
“Some of them may struggle in some other
class areas, but in career and technical educa-
tion, these students really shine. Sometimes it’s
the first time in their life where they’ve found
a ‘home,’ and it’s where they can be a produc-
tive citizen in a well-paying job.”
Brendon Morrow, a Hastings senior, said
building the barn was a great experience that
taught him a lot about teamwork and con-
struction.
“It was a really cool learning experience
because it teaches you the basic basics of
building any kind of structure,” Morrow said.
“It’s just really neat to learn how to do all that
stuff on your own.”NOTICE TO BIDDERS
BARRY COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION
The Barry County Road Commission is offering for sale six pickups: (5) 2021 GMC 2500
Crew Cab SLE pickups (1) 2021 GMC 1 Ton Crew Cab SLE pickup w/plow.Sealed proposals will be received at the office of the Barry County Road Commission,
1725 West M-43 Highway, P.O. Box 158, Hastings, MI 49058, until 10:30 AM, Tuesday,
May 24, 2022 for the following items. Please mark outside of bid envelope with truck
number i.e #210010.Specifications and additional information may be obtained at the Road Commission Office
at the above phone number or at our website http://www.barrycrc.org., please make an
appointment for all viewings of the trucks. NOTE: All trucks are sold as is.(5) 2021 GMC 2500 Crew Cab SLE Pickups
4WD Duramax Diesel, Allison Transmission
Air, Cruise, PW & Locks, Keyless remote, Heated mirrors
1 - Summit White #210010 – Green Title - Approximately 27,000 Miles – Minimum Bid
$50,
1 - Summit White- #210040 – Orange Title (MUNICIAPL Title – NOT SALVAGE) –
Approximately 12,000 Miles - Minimum Bid $50,
1 - Summit Black #210100 – Green Title - Approximately 11,000 Miles – Minimum Bid
$50,
1 - Summit White #210120 – Green Title - Approximately 17,500 Miles – Minimum Bid
$50,
1 - Summit Black #210140 – Green Title - Approximately 18,000 Miles – Minimum Bid
$50,(1) 2021 GMC Dually 3500 Crew Cab SLE Pickup Truck w/plow
4WD Duramax Diesel, Allison Transmission
Air, Cruise, PW & Locks, Keyless remote, Heated mirrors, BOSS Plow, 8-10’ EXT
1-White Truck #210370 – Orange Title (MUNICIAPL Title – NOT SALVAGE)
Approximately 14,500 Miles - Minimum Bid $60,NOTE: All mileages are approximate – trucks are being driven until they are sold.The board reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or to waive irregularities in the
best interest of the Commission.180325Hastings High School students, teachers and advisory committee members stand in front of the completed pole barn project,
along with sponsors John Birman (front, left) and Karleen Birman (front, right).