At this month’s Music in the Parks at the Elitch Gardens Amusement Park, Mancos and Dolores combined to earn “excellent” ratings for their concert band and jazz band.
The Mancos school district took 15 students, 11 from the high school and four from the middle school, to the competition. Twelve students from Dolores participated.
Dolores band teacher Bentley Monk said he and Mancos music teacher Andrew Saletta got together in February at the Fort Lewis College Honor Band, and Saletta invited Dolores to join the Mancos High School Band for Music in the Parks, May 2-4.
“We rehearsed here at Dolores for over a month, preparing to meet Mancos' High School Band,” Monk said. “Once together, we only rehearsed a total of three times as a full ensemble prior to performing two sets of music, one concert band and one jazz band.”
The group received “excellent” ratings for both bands. The concert band placed first, and the jazz band placed second.
Saletta said he has taken a nontraditional route to foster students’ love of music. Because he can meet with high school and middle school band students for one period during the school day, he meets with them outside of school.
“I've devised a system which allows band kids to keep making music; we meet every Monday night, after sports practices, so that these multitalented kids can pursue all their passions,” Saletta said. “We invite families to prepare a meal so that hungry sports kids can come to practice and get nourished after a long day and before band practice, then after enjoying a meal together we settle in for a long, rewarding rehearsal. We have a lot of fun and I'm really proud of all my kids for their commitment to music.”
Saletta expressed his excitement for how the bands performed, saying it brought the schools together to create new friendships and memories.
“I think the kids performed really well at the competition and at both home shows,” he said. “Being small schools, our concert band kids never really get the chance to play with the size of band that is normal at larger schools, and this really was a great opportunity to make that happen for our kids.”
“They all made new friends, and enjoyed making wonderful memories together at the festival, then also at Elitch Gardens Amusement Park in Denver as a reward for their hard work,” he said.
Monk echoed Saletta, sharing his pride.
“Super proud of our kids, both schools, for pushing themselves into new territory and finding their voice among each other from two rival schools,” Monk said. “This was Dolores' first trip back to Music in the Parks festival at Elitch Gardens since the early 2000s.”
“I hope that this trip does two things for both of our programs. One, encourages students who are currently in band at both schools to keep working and pursuing excellence through music and two, elevates both programs into years of great successes musically that helps push Montezuma County beyond Cortez High School’s program.”
Monk also shouted out a Dolores band senior who played the role of percussionist on the band.
“I would like to give a big shout out to Noe Leon, Dolores High School senior percussionist, for his incredible leadership demonstrated throughout his years in the Dolores band program. Noe will truly be missed, and I am beyond thankful I got to be his teacher,” Monk said.
Specifically regarding the schools’ collaboration, Saletta spoke about the students’ excitement in working with their peers and the roles that he and Saletta took on as co-directors of the combined band.
The collaboration proved to be a rewarding experience for students and directors.
“The collaboration with the Dolores band was a blast,” Saletta said. “At first, the students were a bit tentative getting to know each other, and feeling everything out with how this whole collaboration would work. By the time the second rehearsal arrived, I think the kids were really excited to be working with each other.”
Saletta noted that while students were initially reserved, they quickly embraced the partnership.
“By the second rehearsal, the energy and enthusiasm were evident,” he said. “Mr. Monk and I shared conducting responsibilities for both the competition and our school concerts. The entire process unfolded naturally and with great synergy.”
The performances showcased the combined talents of both schools, highlighting the power of music to bring communities together.
Monk added that his relationship with Saletta is a “true musical friendship.”
“Andrew, Mr. Saletta, is doing amazing things as a K-12 music educator who deserves a lot of credit for creating a safe place for all kids, no matter who they are, where they are from, to become a musician,” Monk said. “I hope to work with Mancos’ band for many years into the future. Our student musicians deserved this trip as a reward for years of hard work and dedication.”
