29 musicians chosen for select groups
November 17, 2009
By Christopher Huber
By Christopher Huber
Ever since she was little, Erin Pazaski wanted to play the trumpet. She didn’t know why, but she just knew it was something she wanted to do. The Skyline junior trumpet player eventually performed in the Washington Junior All-State band in middle school and has proceeded to play for the high school All-State band and orchestra.
It was the fulfillment of a dream, she said.
“Turned out to be a good choice,” Pazaski said.
But she seems most proud of earning one of just four spots in the 2010 Washington All-State Orchestra.
“I’m glad to make it into the orchestra because there’s fewer spots for trumpet,” Pazaski said. “It’s cool to be with a lot of people that are just as good or better than you.”
Pazaski is one of 29 student-musicians from plateau schools to be accepted into All-State choirs, instrumental groups and other regional honor bands.
Skyline is sending five from its band and orchestra: Pazaski, senior James Nielsen (euphonium), sophomore P.J. Lagow (trumpet), junior Elaine Pazaski (clarinet) and junior Erin Hoffman (flute). Alto singers Nicole Chambers, and Michelle Bretl each made the All-State Treble Choir, according to Skyline Choir director Nancy Ziebart.
Bass singer Kamalu Santos made the Symphonic Choir and soprano Prithvi Addepalli made the Vocal Jazz Choir.
This year, all the instrumentalists who auditioned, made it, said Skyline band director Dave Pitt.
“We got lucky,” he said. “Usually it isn’t a uniform response like that.”
Eastlake High School is also sending five students to state in February, including Erik Wictor and Monica Seeley, to the All-State Concert Band, and senior violinist Josh Park to the orchestra, according to Eastlake band director Judi Rogers.
Senior Katharine Precup and junior exchange student Katrine Haraldseid will perform in the symphonic choir.
Eastside Catholic is sending five musicians to the 2010 Western International Band Clinic honor bands Nov. 20-23 in Seattle, said Eastside Catholic band director Philip Dungey.
Among the musicians honored are: Sammamish residents Connor Pomeroy (alto sax) and Addison Klinke (trumpet) along with seniors Jemin Shim (percussion), Dasol “Winni” Jeong (clarinet) and freshman Lucas Heflin (alto sax).
“I think it’s a pretty cool opportunity to work with all the professional musician people and the directors,” Klinke said.
The upcoming event brings selected young musicians from around the United States and Canada, Dungey said.
“It definitely shows they have achieved a certain level of musicianship,” Dungey said. “They’ve spent years developing their skills.”
Nine freshmen at Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus were accepted to All-State groups, as well — seven choral and two instrumental. Madison Bennett, Courtney Brauff, Emma Kurtenbach and Jack Wheeler all made the symphonic choir and Catie Raissipour, Kaydee Walter and Charlotte Zhao made the treble choir. Freshman Sarah Elderkin will play in the concert band and Andy Abel will perform with the chamber orchestra.
To be selected for any of the honor groups, students submit audition recordings under the supervision of their music teacher. Judges from the Washington Music Educators Association and the National Association for Music Educators Northwest Division listen to and critique each audition and select the top students.
Ziebart and Rogers said the number of students from their schools who are accepted varies each year.
It depends on how many apply and who the judges are. In 2009, 2,446 Washington students auditioned for the high school All-State groups, according to WMEA. More than 1,000 auditioned for junior All-State.
“You have to have the skill to do it and then you have to have the commitment to make it a decent audition,” Ziebart said.
All-State is divided into the concert band, symphony orchestra, the symphonic choir and the youth honor chorus. Approximately 600 students from Washington participated in the All-State groups in 2009, according the WMEA. The 2010 event will feature eight honor groups.
Upon arriving in Yakima, the musicians will gather in their respective musical groups to rehearse for one to three days, depending on the group. Organizers bring in acclaimed conductors from around the country to lead each musical group.
After long days of practice, the groups, some 120 members strong, perform in a combined concert.
“The concerts are a wonder to listen to,” Pitt said.
The All-State gala concert event will be held Feb. 12-15 in Yakima and will end with a day of concerts for parents and all who are interested in attending.
Tickets are $15 and available at www.ticketswest.com.
For more information on All-State and All-Northwest honor groups, visit http://www.wmea.org/StudentEvents/HSHonorGroups/.
Learn more about the Western International Band Clinic honor bands at www.bandworld.org.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. To comment on this story, visit www.SammamishReview.com.
Ever since she was little, Erin Pazaski wanted to play the trumpet. She didn’t know why, but she just knew it was something she wanted to do. The Skyline junior trumpet player eventually performed in the Washington Junior All-State band in middle school and has proceeded to play for the high school All-State band and orchestra.
It was the fulfillment of a dream, she said.
“Turned out to be a good choice,” Pazaski said.
But she seems most proud of earning one of just four spots in the 2010 Washington All-State Orchestra.
“I’m glad to make it into the orchestra because there’s fewer spots for trumpet,” Pazaski said. “It’s cool to be with a lot of people that are just as good or better than you.”
Pazaski is one of 29 student-musicians from plateau schools to be accepted into All-State choirs, instrumental groups and other regional honor bands.
Skyline is sending five from its band and orchestra: Pazaski, senior James Nielsen (euphonium), sophomore P.J. Lagow (trumpet), junior Elaine Pazaski (clarinet) and junior Erin Hoffman (flute). Alto singers Nicole Chambers, and Michelle Bretl each made the All-State Treble Choir, according to Skyline Choir director Nancy Ziebart.
Bass singer Kamalu Santos made the Symphonic Choir and soprano Prithvi Addepalli made the Vocal Jazz Choir.
This year, all the instrumentalists who auditioned, made it, said Skyline band director Dave Pitt.
“We got lucky,” he said. “Usually it isn’t a uniform response like that.”
Eastlake High School is also sending five students to state in February, including Erik Wictor and Monica Seeley, to the All-State Concert Band, and senior violinist Josh Park to the orchestra, according to Eastlake band director Judi Rogers.
Senior Katharine Precup and junior exchange student Katrine Haraldseid will perform in the symphonic choir.
Eastside Catholic is sending five musicians to the 2010 Western International Band Clinic honor bands Nov. 20-23 in Seattle, said Eastside Catholic band director Philip Dungey.
Among the musicians honored are: Sammamish residents Connor Pomeroy (alto sax) and Addison Klinke (trumpet) along with seniors Jemin Shim (percussion), Dasol “Winni” Jeong (clarinet) and freshman Lucas Heflin (alto sax).
“I think it’s a pretty cool opportunity to work with all the professional musician people and the directors,” Klinke said.
The upcoming event brings selected young musicians from around the United States and Canada, Dungey said.
“It definitely shows they have achieved a certain level of musicianship,” Dungey said. “They’ve spent years developing their skills.”
Nine freshmen at Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus were accepted to All-State groups, as well — seven choral and two instrumental. Madison Bennett, Courtney Brauff, Emma Kurtenbach and Jack Wheeler all made the symphonic choir and Catie Raissipour, Kaydee Walter and Charlotte Zhao made the treble choir. Freshman Sarah Elderkin will play in the concert band and Andy Abel will perform with the chamber orchestra.
To be selected for any of the honor groups, students submit audition recordings under the supervision of their music teacher. Judges from the Washington Music Educators Association and the National Association for Music Educators Northwest Division listen to and critique each audition and select the top students.
Ziebart and Rogers said the number of students from their schools who are accepted varies each year.
It depends on how many apply and who the judges are. In 2009, 2,446 Washington students auditioned for the high school All-State groups, according to WMEA. More than 1,000 auditioned for junior All-State.
“You have to have the skill to do it and then you have to have the commitment to make it a decent audition,” Ziebart said.
All-State is divided into the concert band, symphony orchestra, the symphonic choir and the youth honor chorus. Approximately 600 students from Washington participated in the All-State groups in 2009, according the WMEA. The 2010 event will feature eight honor groups.
Upon arriving in Yakima, the musicians will gather in their respective musical groups to rehearse for one to three days, depending on the group. Organizers bring in acclaimed conductors from around the country to lead each musical group.
After long days of practice, the groups, some 120 members strong, perform in a combined concert.
“The concerts are a wonder to listen to,” Pitt said.
The All-State gala concert event will be held Feb. 12-15 in Yakima and will end with a day of concerts for parents and all who are interested in attending.
Tickets are $15 and available at www.ticketswest.com.
For more information on All-State and All-Northwest honor groups, visit http://www.wmea.org/StudentEvents/HSHonorGroups/.
Learn more about the Western International Band Clinic honor bands at www.bandworld.org.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
Other Stories of Interest: Eastlake High School, Eastside Catholic, Sammamish arts and entertainment, Skyline High School
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