For the first time in seven years, Nome-Beltz Middle High School will host Music Regions. The annual competition will bring together more than 80 students from Kotzebue, Bethel, Dillingham, Unalakleet and Nome.
First-year band teacher for Nome-Beltz, Richard Sargent, said the competition is great practice for the program.
“It allows the students to have more experiences, get to program harder music and music that our normal instrumentation just doesn't allow us,” Sargent said.
He said preparations for the competition have been underway for months.
“The students that I get to work with on a day-to-day basis have been showing up, doing their best every day,” Sargent said. “The best part about it is just having someone to perform to. If there's no audience, it's just another rehearsal.”
The six schools will each perform their own program Friday night, followed by solo and ensemble performances Saturday night. Sargent said the main goal of the two-day event ultimately is personal growth.
“When you start to compare yourself to other people - sometimes that can turn into a negative self voice, which I just try not to impose onto anybody,” Sargent said. “And when you look at it as, am I better than when I started? Great.”
Friday’s performances start at 7 p.m. and Saturday’s at 6 p.m. After the solo and ensemble performances, all six bands will play together followed by a chorus performance to finish out the evening.
