Lynda Alley, Enumclaw High School band and orchestra director, hosted the Washington Music Educators Association’s Green River region’s 2011 Band Solo/Ensemble Contest Jan. 29.
The event showcased musical talent from the Auburn, Enumclaw, Kent, Tahoma and White River school districts. There were six categories with one judge adjudicating each category; approximately 160 soloists or ensemble groups competed; 25 soloists and/or ensemble groups from Enumclaw were represented.
Individually, 40 Enumclaw band students participated. Twenty-two EHS soloists or ensembles received the highest or superior ratings out of the 25 solos/ensembles. Out of those 22 who received the highest ratings, the judges then deemed who will go on to compete at the state level, in addition to first and second alternates. This state competition will take place in Ellensburg on the Central Washington University campus April 29 and 30.
Sam Horn, tuba, Kelsey Watson, euphonium/baritone horn, Thomas Horn, snare drum, and Zach Bainter, bass clarinet, were winners and will move on to state.
The Rainier Brass Quintet of Casey Smith, Matt Jirava, Watson, Jillian Welsh and Sam Horn; Welsh, French horn; The Flyboys, a trumpet trio with Smith, Jirava and Chris Beinke; and Janice Fair, clarinet, were state first alternate selections.
Beinke was also a second alternate pick on trumpet.
Prior to the solo/ensemble, students participated in the Western International Band Clinic Nov. 19-22 and the Northwest High School Honor Band at Pacific Lutheran University Jan. 7 and 8.
Five EHS students attended the four-day WIBC with approximately 600 students from across the nation, especially the West Coast, and some from Japan. Conductors came from across the nation, and The Netherlands. The event culminated in a series of concerts for families and friends. Ben Hanks, French horn, Sam Horn, tuba, Emma Pierce, flute, Sam Ridgewell, clarinet, and Welsh participated.
Five EHS students attended the Northwest High School Honor Band. Like WIBC, this event was an opportunity for students to learn from PLU professors and conductors from across the nation. The event started on a Friday where previously unseen music to the student participants was presented to them. They studied and practiced the music Friday and Saturday and preformed a series of concerts on the PLU campus Saturday.
Bainter, bass clarinet, Fair, clarinet, Sam Horn, Pierce and Smith participated.
The band and orchestra were scheduled to compete at the Viking Jazz Festival and at the Washington Music Educators Association regional Strings Solo/Ensemble Contest. EHS students in the All State Concert Band, All State Symphony Orchestra and All Northwest Orchestra performed at Benaroya Hall in Bellevue.
Fair is a member of the All State Concert Band. Alyssa Hudon and Anne Wolfe, violin, and Mary Jarvis, viola, are part of the All State Symphony Orchestra. Kaelynn Dirks plays violin in the All Northwest Orchestra.
The band and orchestra will perform for local audiences May 23 in the EHS auditorium. The wind ensemble will perform an additional concert May 25.
Orchestra
Twenty-five of 27 students, 98 percent of the orchestra class, represented Enumclaw High School at the Regional Solo and Ensemble Contest, receiving either superior or excellent ratings, Feb. 5 at Kentridge High School.
The event drew hundreds of string musicians from eight local high schools who performed for professional adjudicators, all hoping to land a spot at the state competition set for April at Central Washington University in Ellensburg.
Kaelynn Dirks, who placed first in the violin category, will advance to the state competition.
Dirks was also part of EHS’s Musical Messages Quintet, which also featured Alyssa Hudon and Anne Wolfe on violin, Mary Jarvis, viola, and Lori Lamm, cello, that will go to state. The ladies placed first in the large ensemble category.
Jarvis will serve as first alternate in the viola category. Dirks and Hudon, performing as EHS Duet No. 100, also will serve as first alternate in the small ensemble category. First alternates go to state if the winner is unable to attend or one of the other regions do not have a winner in that category.
To be chosen as a winner or alternate, musicians must receive a superior rating.
Six of EHS’s seven soloists received the highest rating of superior.
Two of its four small ensembles received an excellent rating and two received a superior rating
Two of the large ensembles earned excellent ratings and two received superior ratings.
