David VonAllmen

Lucas VonAllmen (12), Amelia Drake (10) and Kimmi Lin (10) perform at the Tan-Tar-A Conference Center. Each person performed in 3 of the 4 pieces that they played. “I had the marimba, vibraphone and snare drum,” VonAllmen said.

January 23-26, the Missouri Music Educators Association hosted its 86th Annual In-Service Workshop/Conference in Tan-Tar-A Conference Center, Lake of the Ozarks. The Ladue Percussion Ensemble was invited to attend and perform at 8 a.m. January 25. The ensemble included Amelia Drake (10) and Lucas VonAllmen (12). 

“It’s cool to be able to play in front of [experienced musicians and music directors] because usually when we do performances, here at Ladue, it’s just parents and community members,” VonAllmen said. 

Only being eligible for the program every 4 years, the Percussion Ensemble has been to the event three times in the past. They submitted a recording of the Night of Percussion from 2023 to enter, and were selected from out of over 100 other ensembles. Performing for such a prestigious event required lots of preparation.

“[The biggest challenge] was getting all the instruments set up correctly and being able to transition between pieces,” VonAllmen said.

However, there is always practice for the performance beforehand. All of the percussionists started practicing in the beginning of the school year, with their teacher Erin Elstner.

“We practiced every single day in class and we would have playing tests or we’d have to play a certain part of the piece for [Ms. Elstner],” Drake said. 

Overall, the event was very successful, and the Percussion Ensemble was able to perform all four pieces in under 30 minutes with no issues. The achievement was celebrated after with everyone who participated. 

“Afterwards Ms. Elsner came out, she gave us all a hug and was super happy and everybody was super supportive,” Drake said. “I think just hearing what everybody thought about how we played [was the best part].”