Wausa students make final preparations for District music contest

Mark Mahoney 

Wausa Gazette 

HARTINGTON – Music students always strive to give “superior” performances, especially when they are competing at the highest level. 

Hartington-Newcastle High School in Hartington will host one of the Nebraska School Activities Association’s 2021-22 District Music Contests starting at 8 a.m. Friday, April 22. 

“It is an honor to represent the NSAA in providing the facilities for students to showcase their musical talents,” said Mary Hahne, the 7-12 vocal music and band instructor for Hartington-Newcastle. 

She noted that the district music contest is the highest competition for music in the state of Nebraska. 

“Students who perform solos or small entries with one judge are awarded ratings based on their performance,” Hahne said. “A superior rating or ‘1’ is the highest rating. 

“They can also be nominated for ‘Outstanding Performance of the Day’ or listed as honorable mention,” she said. “After earning this honor, students’ events and names are recognized on the NSAA site under ‘Music.’” 

She explained that large ensembles with three judges are able to earn a superior rating when two or three of the judges award them a superior rating. 

“Large ensembles such as the concert band, choir, swing choir, jazz band, chamber choir, treble choir or bass choir will earn a superior rating and a plaque when all three judges award them a superior rating,” Hahne said. 

Hartington-Newcastle is one of the four District III contest sites, along with Norfolk, South Sioux City and West Holt in Atkinson. 

Fifteen schools will be represented at this year’s district music contest at Hartington-Newcastle, including the host school: 

-Class C: Cedar Catholic of Hartington, Creighton, Crofton, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge and Plainview. 

-Class D: Bloomfield, Elkhorn Valley of Tilden, Hartington-Newcastle, Niobrara, Osmond, Randolph, Santee, Verdigre, Wausa and Wynot.