It was a banner day full of outstanding performances on Jan. 23, when 140 Mercer Island band students participated in the Eastshore Music League’s Solo and Ensemble Contest at Bellevue College.
This event provides the opportunity for the Eastshore’s finest high school music students to hear each other perform alone andin ensembles. The Eastshore Music League is made up of 11 Eastside high schools stretching from Mercer Island to Mt. Si and from Liberty to Interlake.
Professional musicians from all over the Pacific Northwest filled the role of adjudicator and clinician. Each adjudicator listened to each performance, provided constructive written feedback and ranked the top three performers in each category. This year’s adjudicators included musicians from the Seattle Symphony, 5th Avenue Theater and the Pacific Northwest Ballet.
Of the 20 wind and percussion categories, Mercer Island students were recognized as winners or alternates in 16 categories. Twenty-seven entries, comprised of 60 students, placed in or were selected as winners in their category.
“The entire MISD band staff is so proud of all the great performances this past Saturday. These performances represent hundreds of hours of hard work and are a testament to the commitment and maturity of our band kids” said Parker Bixby, band director.
A complete list of winners and alternates are listed below. These students will go on to the State Solo and Ensemble Contest in Ellensburg April 29-30.
Category winners include: Zoe Sheill for flute; Alex Banbury for oboe; Cameron Cummings for bass clarinet; Tynan McGee for trombone; MIHS sax quintet of Ren Jaeks, Rose Weiker, Annie Ritcey, Sophie Chang and Christian Nicoll for large woodwind ensemble; Daniel Pooley for snare drum and multiple percussion; Verli Chen for timpani and mallets; MIHS percussion duet of Daniel Pooley and Jon Perr for small percussion ensemble; MIHS percussion ensemble of Ben Chase, Meg Frisch, Verli Chen, Larissa Bitners, Chris Shin, Marissa Look, Matt McBurney, Daniel Pooley, Lauren Ralph, Devon Hayes, Jack Shanafelt, Jon Perr, Daniel Shen, Cole Johnson, Matt McLellan and Matteo Corneto for large percussion ensemble.
First alternates include: Isabel Hernandez for clarinet; Katherine Gelsey for oboe; Patrick Nuckolls for bassoon; Riley Fang for soprano saxophone; Tommy Latkowski for trumpet; Kathryn Ristuben for French horn; MIHS Sassy Brassy group of Ali Rosenman, Max Waller, Jackson Borek, Tynan McGee, Daniel Gest, Braden Williams and Claire Stein for large brass ensemble; and Daniel Pooley for timpani and mallets.
Second alternates include: Mona Xue for clarinet; Rebecca Bone for bassoon; Sam Bailey for bass clarinet; Kira Newell for trumpet; the MIHS sextet of Haley Beuthel, Emily Wang, Sabrina Kwan, Evan Ashley, Ben Dixon and Zoe Sheill for large woodwind ensemble; MIHS brass quintet of Nabeel Gaber, Kira Newell, Ali Rosenman, Zeke Larsen and Kathryn Ristuben for large brass ensemble; and Andrew Motz for mallets.
