Two Bainbridge High School sophomores recently joined the impressive ranks of the most outstanding Washington high school musicians this year and played as part of the 2016 Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) All-State performing groups.

Kevin McCann was selected for All-State Concert Band for alto saxophone and Henry Brown made the All-State Wind Ensemble for tenor saxophone.

Both students are members of the BHS Wind Ensemble, led by Christopher Thomas, and also study privately with Dave Carson.

The duo were selected out of 2,559 students who auditioned for the opportunity to join WMEA All-State high school bands, orchestras and choirs. They performed in Yakima last week under the direction of world-renowned conductors.

This year, the All-State Concert Band was conducted by Lois Ferrari, a professor of music at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas and music director of the Austin Civic Orchestra. Harlan Parker, conductor of the All-State Wind Ensemble, conducts the Peabody Wind Ensemble and is the coordinator of the music education division at the Peabody Conservatory of Music of The Johns Hopkins University.

The Yakima concert is the culmination of months of work. In early fall, students submitted a recorded audition of three pieces, together with a chromatic scale. They received notification of acceptance and band placement in early November.