One of the sure signs of spring is the arrival of the annual Music Fest held at Central Methodist University on the Fayette campus. This year’s rite occurs Thursday evening, March 2, from 5:30-8 pm. and Friday, from 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Both vocal and instrumental students will perform in solos and ensembles throughout the event. Audiences are welcome at any performances and there is no admission fee, though no one can enter once a performance has begun.
Rather than competing against each other, each soloist or group is evaluated on a scale of I (top) through V. The festival is designed in part to help prepare individuals and groups for the upcoming district and state competitions.
Performing Thursday night, March 2, will be Moberly Junior High and Laura Speed Elliott Middle School from Boonville at Linn Memorial Church; and six bands and an orchestra performing in the Inman Student and Community Center. They include Westran Middle and Senior High, St. George Junior High from Linn, Community R-6 from Laddonia, Chester Boren Middle School from Centralia, Bueker Middle School String Orchestra from Marshall, and Lexington Junior High.
On Friday, students from the following schools will be performing at venues all over the campus: Battle High School (Columbia), Bevier, Blue Springs, Brunswick, Boonville, Bunceton, Christian Fellowship (Columbia), Columbia Independent, Elson, Elsberry, Fatima, Fayette, Fulton, Gentry Middle School (Columbia),
Glasgow, Hallsville, Hartville, Helias Catholic (Jefferson City), Higbee, Holy Rosary (Monroe City), Jefferson Middle School (Columbia), John B. Lange Middle School (Columbia), Keytesville, Kingsville, Laquey, Louisiana, Macks Creek, Macon, Marshall, Mexico Middle School and High School, New Bloomfield, New Franklin,
North Shelby, Oakland Middle School (Columbia), Odessa, Our Lady of Lourdes (Columbia), Paris, Pilot Grove, Ralls County, Renick, Russellville, Salisbury, Slater, Smithton Middle School (Columbia), South Callaway, South Shelby, St. Joseph (Salisbury), St. Pius (Moberly), Sturgeon, Vienna, Waynesville, and West Middle School (Columbia).
More than 1,200 students are expected during the Music Festival, which is run primarily by the music students of CMU’s Swinney Conservatory of Music.