Orcas H.S. Band Students Receive Excellent Ratings at Regional Contest

— from Kristen Wilson —

The small, but mighty Orcas High School Band brought home “Excellent” ratings from judges at a regional contest in Bellingham on March 25. Playing under the direction of Darren Dix, the nine-member Orcas band competed with more than 20 other high school bands at the San Juan Music Educators Association (SJMEA) Sr. Large Group Band Contest at the Performing Arts Center on the Western Washington University Campus.

“The band played well and had a really great clinic session,” Dix said. “The comments that each adjudicator wrote were very informative and good constructive criticism. Overall the students performed well and had fun!”

Playing music “gives me an exhilarating feeling like nothing else,” said Josephine Gudgell who plays percussion in the Orcas High School Band. The Orcas musicians played The Original Thirteen, a bravura piece (by William Billings, arr. Ployhar) with woodwinds trilling, brass fanfare-ing and cymbals crashing. They also played David Shaffer’s bold and contemporary Flight of the Pegasus.

Members of the Orcas High School Band who competed in Bellingham include Claire Bishop Martin, Holden Griskey-Watson, Liam Griskey-Watson, Josephine Gudgell, Keith Light, Devon Mann, Magdalyn Paige, Kahana Pietsch, and McCabe Webb.

“Music teaches us academic motivation, discipline, appreciation, passion and respect,” added Gudgell. “It has taught me, more than anything else, to overcome fear and embrace challenges. It allows us to communicate when words can’t.”

The Music Advocacy Group paid the cost of registration and school bus transportation for the students, allowing them to compete in this contest.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the Orcas High School Music concert, featuring H.S. band and strings musicians, on Thursday, June 4, at Orcas Center. School music matters!