Jazz band takes top honors again

The Sisters High School Jazz Band has set itself apart from the other jazz bands in the Capital Conference. For the fourth year in a row it received the "Outstanding Band Award" at the Capital Conference Jazz Festival which was held in Sweet Home this past week.

The trumpet section and the rhythm sections claimed two of the four outstanding section awards that were issued.

Four of the eight outstanding soloist awards issued went to members of the Sisters Jazz Band:

• Outstanding Trumpet Soloist -- Pat Hammons.
• Outstanding Saxophone Soloist -- Justin Thomas.
• Outstanding Guitarist -- Josh Rodriquez.
• Outstanding Pianist -- Ben Scharf.

Chuck Bolton was the adjudicator for the festival, and is the chairperson of the Oregon Band Directors Association and the OSAA Music Committee.

His closing advice in the workshop/clinic provided to the Sisters musicians was, "...keep doing exactly what you're doing. You're a great band doing all the right things, just keep it up."

Band Director Jody Henderson was pleased with his musicians.

"The students have maintained such high quality in the program when time has been such a limited resource," he said. "The jazz bands only meet before school on a couple of mornings each week, yet they have been a continuous success."

The students attribute their success to their teacher.

Four-year trombone player Robin Hoagland said, "It's always been him (Henderson). He cares so much about the program. He always tries to make it fun to be there. It really doesn't even seem like a class, or that you're judged by what you do. He tries to make it the best experience it can be for everybody involved."

Amy Cretsinger was in total agreement.

"He's such a great teacher!" she said. "He's really taught us how to play together and listen to each other. We do well because of him. I've been in the jazz band for four years and we've won every year. That's kinda cool."

The JV Jazz Band also performed at the festival.

The adjudicator was impressed and commented to Henderson, "Some great, young talent is evident in your second band.

"There are many large 4A schools that don't have enough interest to have two jazz bands. You have some great things going on with your program in Sisters. That's very evident in your playing."