This year is different than last year because it's an All-Northwest year, which means that those honor groups consist of students from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Montana and Wyoming. So, it's more prestigious and more competitive. Additionally, if students do well but not well enough to make it into All-Northwest, Washington has All-State groups, which serve as a runner-up program. I've got students spread out over 4 different groups.
The All-Northwest programs have 3 opportunities for wind players: The orchestra, the concert band and the small-school wind symphony. None of my students got into the orchestra, which only selects probably 6 to 8 brass players in the horns, trombones and trumpets. But, I did have 2 trumpeters and 2 trombonists in the concert band, which will have about 12-16 players. So, these four are amongst the top 20 of their instruments in the 6 states. That is A. MAZING.
My 4 players that made it in this group have all studied with me for a very long time and have all worked so hard and overcome their own challenges:
Hannah Mayne, one of my two senior superstar trumpet players. She's always been a very talented player but has had to work so much on being confident and comfortable with herself. This year she's finally reached that mark and has the demeanor like she can handle anything given to her with real leadership. That really showed in her audition this year and last year, and she's gotten what she has deserved.
Isadora White, my other senior superstar trumpet player. She's probably my most improved player overall, coming from being an average trumpet player in middle school to one of the elite musicians in Oak Harbor. It's been amazing watching her growth, and she's worked so hard for it. She's also become a great leader as a player and as a person, and has been serving as a student assistant to me.
Lola Chargualaf has always been an impressive trombonist, and everyone that knows her recognizes her as amazing. She's actually made it into All-Northwest before, back in 2020 when there wasn't really an honor band because of COVID, but students were encouraged to audition anyways for practice. She's always worked so hard and played so beautifully, so she belongs in this group.
Skooter Fagan is a senior trombonist who has always been naturally gifted on trombone, and has really emerged as a great overall player. He's really benefited from hard work, which, coupled with his ability, has really given him great opportunities. I'm so happy he gets this opportunity, as well.
So those are the 4 in the All-Northwest Concert Band from my studio. In the All-Northwest Wind Symphony, which is specifically for kids from small schools. There is a separate audition list for this, and Chris Dyel, the Anacortes High School band director, usually requires all of his Wind Ensemble kids to audition for this. Some of those kids also did the normal band/orchestra auditions. 4 brass player that I've worked with, either at the brass camp or in individual lessons or at these coaching sessions I've been going to in Anacortes, have made it in: Sean Dyer on trumpet, Ashlyn Solowey on horn, Ethan Hicks on horn, and Jonathan Evans on trombone. These kids are all great players and people, and I'm so happy for them to make it in! I'm very curious about the Wind Symphony this year...the All-State Wind Symphony last year wasn't very good, but I know it's going to be better this year because it's more prestigious, and sounds like it has a rally great conductor.
I have 4 students in the All-State groups as well, who are my 4 underclassmen from Oak Harbor who auditioned:
Jake Bailey, a freshmen trumpet player who's the only member of my studio in the All-State Orchestra. He's really a stand-out player for his age, and always has been. I'm really excited for his future, especially after this big opportunity after his very first All-State audition.
Oliver Abercrombie, a freshmen trumpeter and one of three of my students in the All-State Concert Band. He's a really talented player who's really still trying to find his way in the musical word, since he took horn lessons for a while and plays the tenor sax in this band with his friends. But, I'm really glad he worked hard on this audition and made it in.
Ethan Brady, a sophomore horn player, is another stand-out for his age. He's come such a long way, as well, and has really endured ever challenge that he's been through. And the horn list this year for the audition was really difficult, more difficult in comparison to the trumpet and trombone auditions. I'm really proud of this guy, and really look forward to his trying for All-Northwest again in 2 years.
Eddy Perera, a sophomore trombonist who just started going to Oak Harbor High School this year after switching from Coupeville. He's also one that has come a very long way and is one of my most-improved students, and has also endured a lot of very big challenges as a player. He attended the All-State Wind Symphony last year, so it's great to see him take that next step up.
Yes, what a great group of kids. They are all amazing and I love them all.
On another note, I had another brass studio recital on Friday, and it was another really great one. I'm relieved it went well, because this recital just sort of crept up on all of us. The high school kids had recently worked hard on their auditions and are currently working on stuff for Solo & Ensemble, and the middle school and intermediate school kids are still just kinda getting situated with their schedules and everything...so yeah, this recital just came out of nowhere. And I didn't have any pianists available for this, either. But we still put on a nice little show and had a great time. I wish I was able to have my entire studio there, but several of my students were either out sick or on vacation, which was a real bummer. I'm in the process of editing the videos from the recital right now, and I want to show the piece we played all together at the end.
Take care and value music.