White River Middle School music students had a stellar year at the recent Green River Solo Ensemble held at Cedar Heights Middle School in Kent March 7.

Of the 12 soloists and group ensembles performing, eight received a “1”, or Superior, rating and four received a “2”, or Excellent, rating. Karin Moses, band director at White River Middle School, couldn’t have been more proud of these budding musicians.

“They have all worked extremely hard on their pieces and it really shows in the ratings they received at the contest,” she said.

Many of the students had been preparing their pieces for adjudication for over a month, putting on the polishing final touches the week or two prior to the festival.

Soloists performing this year and receiving a superior rating were seventh-graders Dane French, trumpet, Jonathon Simpson, clarinet, Chandler Halvorsen, alto sax and Dakota Bown, trombone and eighth-grader Amedeo Gallucci, french horn. Soloists receiving an Excellent rating were eighth-grader Chris Fisher, trumpet, seventh-graders Jeffrey Straughn, trombone, and Keyzia Stearns, flute, and sixth-grader Janelle Farris, alto sax. All entrants in the duet/ensemble category received a Superior rating. Seventh-grade duets were Kylie Brown and Dakota Bown, Sarah Moe and Michelle Overton, and a sixth-grade duet by Janelle Farris and Travis Neal.