By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Six Sitka High music students more than held their own at the All Northwest Honor Bands and Choirs in Bellevue, Washington, SHS Music Director Andrew Hames said.
“They just sounded awesome,” said Hames, who accompanied the students to the music conference. “Just a really high-caliber music experience.”
The six auditioned and all were selected for one of the music groups at the conference, held Feb. 18 and 19 at the Meydenbauer Center and the nearby Hyatt Regency in Bellevue.
Senior Tyler Adres, who plays alto saxophone, qualified for the concert band; freshman Justin Hames, trumpet, and junior Theo Everson, flute, were selected for the wind symphony.
Junior Quinton Newsome and senior Haley Silva were selected for mixed choir; and Emily Blackmon, a senior, was selected for treble choir.
Sitka High students who participated in the All-Northwest music conference last month in Washington state are, from left, Theo Everson, Justin Hames, Tyler Adres, Quinton Newsome, Haley Silva and Emily Blackmon. (Photo provided)
Students submit audition recordings to be chosen for the various groups at All-Northwest – a separate process from selection for Southeast or all-state honor music ensembles.
“It’s very competitive,” Hames said. “So to make the cut is really great. Getting in is an amazing achievement, so to have all the kids who audition make it in is just awesome.”
Hames said students and directors had a short turnaround time at the conference to learn the music and rehearse, and he was pleased with the outcome.
Some of the concerts were scheduled at the same time, so he wasn’t able to hear all of the groups. But he heard from his students how great is was to rehearse and play with other students who were equally motivated and prepared, “and just putting out great sound, whether they’re singing or playing an instrument.”
Adres grew up listening to his cousin Kristine Banh play the saxophone. “She influenced my decision to play the sax,” he said of his choice in fifth grade, when students first start learning band instruments. Banh graduated from Sitka High in the mid 2010s, and continued her music studies in college.
As for his experience at the Washington music conference, he texted, “Going to All-Northwest was amazing because I got to spend time with 210 others with the same amount of passion as me. It was great to work and learn from people that were dedicated to their music and it was refreshing to be able to meet other musicians from different states. This opened my eyes on how impactful music can be on youth.”
Justin Hames started trumpet in fifth grade, inspired by his uncle Roger Hames, grandpa Roger Hames, and music teachers Susan Brandt-Ferguson and Roger Schmidt.
He said his favorite parts about All-Northwest was meeting other kids from the Northwest who enjoy music as much as he does.
“Everyone there was so nice and just wanted to put on an amazing performance,” he said. “I enjoyed getting to perform for 1,300 people at the end of the weekend.” The group he performed with, the wind symphony, was the largest group he has performed with, with 110 musicians.
“It was fun to go outside of the state for a music trip,” he added.
Newsome said she was impressed by the “humongous” size of the mixed choir, and commented, “Hearing how everyone’s voices were different yet blended was truly a beautiful experience.”
The conference is put on by the National Association for Music Education- Northwest Division, which also hosted sessions for music directors.
