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Honoring the musician

As King day approaches, young instrumentalists gather for another annual rite: the Karl King Honor Band performance

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen AAlex Tiernan, 11, reacts to the next difficult piece of music Saturday afternoon as she rehearses with the Sixth Grade Karl King Honor Band at St. Edmond Catholic School. Dan Cassady, left, the former director of bands at St. Edmond, sat in for a few minutes to prank his friend Kathy Yoakam, of Humboldt, who was directing the group.

It’s not a recipe that should really work.

Take an orchestra full of sixth- and seventh-grade students, most of whom have never met each other before.

Put them all together with a new conductor they’ve never worked with before.

With music they’ve only recently been introduced to and have only practiced on their own.

Then give them five hours to polish the work, learn to play together well — and perform in concert right after their last rehearsal.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Kathy Yoakam, the fifth- and sixth-grade band director at Humboldt Middle School, gets an audience member’s perspective Saturday afternoon while working with the sixth-grade band during the annual Karl King Honor Band at St. Edmond Catholic School.

Yet, this is exactly what happens each year at the Karl King Honor Band event held at St. Edmond Catholic School.

But work, and work well, it does.

Kathy Yoakam, the fifth- and sixth-grade band director at Humboldt Middle School was working with the sixth-graders Saturday.

She had high praise for the group of students from throughout the state of Iowa.

“These guys have been extra special,” she said. “Right away they just clicked. It can be a scary thing, but these guys were so well-prepared.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Madelyn Dutcher, 13, of Fort Dodge, runs through a few bars on her flute Saturday during a rehearsal break with the seventh-grade Karl King Honor Band at St. Edmond Catholic School.

While the students who attend were selected by their band directors, they still have to try out for their seat positions.

Alex Tiernan, 11, of Fort Dodge, wasn’t sure what number she ended up with.

“I got the end,” she said. “I don’t know if that’s good or bad.”

She got through the tryout without too many nerves.

“I was just a tad nervous,” she said. “I’ve done it before. It’s nothing new.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Alex Tiernan, 11, a sixth-grader at St. Edmond Middle School, practices with the other clarinet players during rehearsal for the annual Karl King Honor Band concert, which was held Saturday evening.

She was finding one of the pieces more difficult than the others.

“Karl King’s music is very challenging,” she said. “‘Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite’ is not my favorite.”

Dan Cassady, of Manson, the former director of bands at St. Edmond, took an empty chair next to Tiernan with his trombone.

A friend of Yoakam’s, who plays with him in the band Jive For Five, it took her a few minutes to notice the prank.

He enjoys watching the band’s progress.

“The growth that can happen in a short five hours is pretty amazing,” Cassady said.

He had high expectations for the concert.

“It will be very good,” he said.

Paul Bloomquist is the band director at Iowa Central Community College.

He usually doesn’t work with younger students.

“It’s good to remember they’re still learning their instruments,” he said. “It’s a chance to present them with different styles. We have a tango and a march; one of them has five transitions in one song.”

He calls the result of the day a “living art form.”

“It’s kind of a gamble,” he said. “This will only happen today, with this band, this audience. It’s here today, gone tomorrow.”

Madelyn Dutcher, 13, of Fort Dodge, did well in tryouts.

“I was a little nervous,” she said. “But I got first flute.”

To prepare for the Karl King Honor Band, Dutcher put in some extra practice on the selections.

“I’d play them once or twice every night,” she said.

She said getting to hear what the other musicians from other schools sound like was one of the highlights.

She also got to play with her twin brother, Andrew Dutcher, who plays trumpet.

But the highlight for her would be later in the da,y when her parents would get to hear her play.

“I’m actually very happy about that,” she said.

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