Spartans hit the right notes in district solo and ensemble contest

March 8, 2018 10:30 am
Bainbridge High’s musician winners at the district competition gather for a photo. Pictured from left are Nicolas Lofgren, Matthew McCann, Henry Brown and Sarah Jung. Megan Rideout-Redeker is not pictured. (Photo courtesy of Chris Thomas)
Bainbridge High’s musician winners at the district competition gather for a photo. Pictured from left are Nicolas Lofgren, Matthew McCann, Henry Brown and Sarah Jung. Megan Rideout-Redeker is not pictured. (Photo courtesy of Chris Thomas)

Six musicians from Bainbridge High won big at the district solo and ensemble contest and will advance to the state competition.

The BHS musicians competed in the Olympic Music Educator’s Association (OMEA) Solo & Ensemble Contest on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Kingston Middle School and Kingston High School.

The Spartans had 28 entries and competed against students from each of the other high schools in the region.

In all, the contest had 310 entries, and roughly 500 total students competing.

Six BHS students won their division and will participate at the State competition, sponsored by Washington Music Educator’s Association/Washington Interscholastic Activities Association at Central Washington University on April 27-28. The district winners are Nicolas Lofgren, clarinet; Megan Rideout-Redeker, bass clarinet; Henry Brown, alto saxophone; Matthew McCann, tenor saxophone; Sarah Jung, violin; and Megan Rideout-Redeker and Nicolas Lofgren, small woodwind ensemble (clarinet duet).

Five of the six winners study privately with local saxophone/clarinet instructor Dave Carson.

In addition, the following Bainbridge High musicians were named as first alternates: Megan Rideout-Redeker, clarinet; Sean Halstead, bass clarinet; Kevin McCann, alto saxophone; Ben Soldow, mallet; David Curcie, snare; Andrew Peterson, Hope Griffiths, Isaiah Bejorgen, Xander Weibel, and Ian Gray, large brass ensemble; and Ben Soldow, Brett Dudgeon, Travis McCoy, Mark Arends, Ryan Olney, Cassandra Alvarado, Sam Ross, Melony Bourgeois, David Curcie, Quinn Courtway, Maka Kurihara, Libby Clements, and Xander Weibel, large percussion ensemble.

Second alternates from BHS include: Kyle Wisner, alto saxophone; Nicolas Lofgren, tenor saxophone; and Cambria Sher​idan, Olivia Cavalluzzi, Randi Harrigan, Nel Straub, Sam Parr, Sean Halstead, Natalia Clermont, and Thomas Wieland, large woodwind ensemble.

Thomas Weiland was designated third alternate for his performance on baritone saxophone.

Islanders will get a chance to hear the high school’s outstanding musicians at a special concert next month.

The top Bainbridge High musicians will perform in an honors recital at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 19 at the Bainbridge Island Art Museum in a benefit for the band program just prior to the State competition.