Performances will be in January in Eugene

Eight KCSD student musicians were chosen to perform in the Oregon Music Educators Association’s All-State Symphonic Band and All-State Treble and Bass choirs.

Four Henley choir students will perform with the All-State Choirs – seniors Grace Weaver, soprano 1; Camden Naylor, bass 2; Jordan Sostilio, tenor 2; and Preston Sale, bass 2. Grace also auditioned and qualified for the All-State Symphonic Band, but had to choose since she could not participate in both.

 Four students qualified for the All-State Symphonic Band – three from Henley and one from Mazama.

Sean Mengel, a Mazama junior who plays French horn, qualified for the third time. At Henley, qualifiers are senior Jaylee Smith on oboe, freshman Lyla Garcia on bass clarinet, and freshman Jadon Smith on trumpet.

Mazama and Henley's band students who were selected will participate with about 100 student musicians in the All-State Symphonic Band. The choir students who were selected are either assigned All-State Treble choir or All-State Tenor/Bass choir.

All-State, organized by the Oregon Music Educators Association, is held in January annual in Eugene. Students submit an audition at the beginning of October. If selected, they receive music to practice individually before they travel to Eugene. Once there, they will work with renowned conductors/composers for three days to prepare the music for a concert on Sunday, Jan. 19 at the end of the OMEA conference. The band performs at the First Baptist Church, and the choir performs at the First United Methodist Church.

This year, the All-State Symphonic Band will be directed by Dr. T. Andre Feagin who is the current Director of Bands at Central Washington University. The All-State Tenor/Bass Choir will be directed by Dr. David Morrow from Morehouse College in Georgia. The All-State Treble Choir will be directed by Dr. Julie Yu-Oppenheim from Oklahoma City University.