Max Tchernoraenko ‘28 began playing clarinet in 5th grade and has continued for five years.

“It looked fun. I mean, it’s just a sort of interesting instrument,” Tchernoraenko said. “My favorite part would be the high notes. It’s really fun just to see how high it can be. But also, when everything puts together, it sounds really good.” 

This year, he was one of three freshmen accepted into wind ensemble as fourth clarinet, City High’s top concert band. 

“[I’m most proud of] getting into wind ensemble as a freshman, hoping next year I get into All-State, all of that stuff. But currently, that’s probably the best,” Tchernoraenko said. “I learned the music, and I also did a bunch of scales, articulation practices, everything, in the world basically.” 

Last year, Wind Ensemble was selected as the best 4A concert band in Iowa, so its musical standards are high and the music is typical of professional level ensembles. 

“[My favorite thing is] the music, because Mr. Kowbel can find lots of really cool music,” Tchernoraenko said. “That’s probably my favorite thing, to just hear it all together.”

Tchernoraenko also got into SEIBA in 7th and 8th grade, a regional honor band. When he was accepted in 7th grade, it changed his perspective.

“Getting into SEIBA as a 7th grader, because that kind of showed me that I can actually do this well,” Tchernoraenko said. “I panicked [before] auditioning because I didn’t learn the music for some reason until the last two weeks, and then I requested, like, three lessons with my teacher, learned it all in two weeks, and then just auditioned [with] whatever I had.”

August Sander ‘28 was one of two freshmen selected to go to All-State. He has been playing cello for seven years.

“I listened to some pretty inspiring performances from various famous groups and musicians like Yo-Yo Ma, for example, and I decided I wanted to play cello myself, so my parents signed me up for lessons at [the] Preucil [School of Music],” Sander said.

The level required to be an All-State musician is very high, so it takes a lot of hard work to get there. Sander finds inspiration from his teacher.

“I’ve always been really inspired by my teacher,” Sander said. “She’s really good. Really tries to make me work hard. She’s really inspired me a lot.”

Sander also continues playing cello for other reasons.

“It really sounds nice. It’s an easy way to decrease stress, and I feel like I’m pretty good at it.” Sander said.

Currently, Sander is in the freshmen concert orchestra, but the Orchestra Director, Ms. Stucky, has plans to move him up to the Philharmonic Orchestra next trimester, which is composed mostly of sophomores and juniors.

“I’m not so worried, because I do know a couple of the upperclassmen in Philharmonic and I’m excited to play more advanced challenging music,” Sander said.

Auggie Dickerson ‘28 was selected as a lead for Diary of the Wimpy Kid, the fall musical this year. He will be playing Rowley Jefferson.

“It was really major. I was actually, like, really surprised, since I’m a freshman, and all the other people in major roles are a lot older than me, so I was pretty honored,” Dickerson said. “They’re all really cool and nice and welcoming, but it’s kind of intimidating to talk to them.”

Auggie has only been in choir since seventh grade, but he has always enjoyed singing.

“I really like to sing, and I’ve really liked to sing ever since I was a little kid,” Dickerson said.

Although he has been in choir for three years, this is one of his first experiences with theater, other than the City High camp over the summer, so audition preparation was a new experience.

“I practiced the material for like a week beforehand–well, the singing stuff anyway, like I played it on my Chromebook, and then I tried to sing what it was. And I also practiced the dance a couple times the week prior,” Dickerson said. “But also I already kind of knew the dance, because we did it at a theater camp.”

Looking forward to the rest of Dickerson’s high school career, theater is not the only thing he is excited for.

“I’m in charisma right now, which is one of the show choirs. I’ll probably be in it again next year. And then I’m gonna probably go out for Fourth Ave, which is the one with mixed voices junior year,” Dickerson said. “I hope to go out for the play either this spring, or next fall.”

Thomas Hand ‘28 has been playing saxophone since fifth grade. He chose it because it challenged him.

“I didn’t know how to make a sound on a reed instrument, and I wanted to learn how,” Hand said.

Flash forward four years, Hand was chosen as an alternate for the All-State music festival, but hopes to make it in over the next four years.

“I just worked really hard because I had a lot of pressure, like before, pre-auditions, like I didn’t have a lot of time to practice over the summer,” Hand said, describing his preparation experience.

While Hand isn’t in Wind Ensemble, due to a very competitive saxophone section this year, he is in Combo, the second highest jazz band, where he is surrounded mostly by upperclassmen.

“I know some of the upperclassmen, some are section leaders, and they’ve all been really nice,” Hand said.

Hand has continued getting better on the saxophone because he enjoys the process.

“I like seeing improvements. When I’m learning a new song, I see it’s really hard. Then after good practice, I can get good at it,” Hand said.