The Dolores RE-4A high school jazz band and choir earned first-place at the Music in the Parks Festival in Denver in April, with the groups also taking home the prestigious Esprit de Corps award for the groups character, demeanor and spirit.
Though the festival took place over multiple days, the Dolores ensembles competed on April 24. Following their time performing, the group enjoyed the roller coasters and other activities offered by Elitch Gardens before the awards ceremony.
There, they not only learned about their first place finishes, but also that they were named recipients of the Esprit de Corps award.
Music and band teacher Bentley Monk said the Esprit de Corps award was particularly meaningful, and quite the surprise, saying the award highlighted how the students represented their school and the community.
“We also got the Esprit de Corps award based on the demeanor of the group and the way they held themselves in public,” Monk told The Journal. “It’s an award that you would get typically within the armed forces, because you’re not just following directions, you’re exemplifying what your organization is at the core. And that, to me personally, was probably more important than the first place trophies.”
The Esprit de Corps trophy is also the biggest trophy in the Dolores Music Department, beating out all other trophies won by the program since the 1980s.
The jazz band performed Duke Ellington’s “Perdido” and a blues piano piece called “Killer on the Keys.” The choir delivered a traditional Latin piece titled “Agnus Dei” and the gospel song “Glory, Glory!”
The music department also participated in other events this year. The school’s modern rock band served as the closing act at the West Slope Jam Fest. Monk said the band is one of the only high school modern band programs on the Western Slope.
At Jamfest, the groups performed “My Own Worst Enemy,” Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” and Sublime’s “Santeria.” The 21-member band was divided into three groups of seven for the performances.
Monk noted that he’s seen significant growth across the Dolores music program this year in choir, jazz band, modern band and other ensembles. He shared some goals for the program as well.
“There has been a tremendous amount of growth within the Dolores Music Department this year, whether it's in choir, in modern band, in jazz band, any of the ensembles … Those kids have really worked their tails off, and we've created a new standard of excellence within the Dolores music program,” Monk said. “And going forward, our goals are to get further and further away from home, to go and perform at competitions to make a name for ourselves.”
bduran@the-journal.com
