Band finishes fourth in state contest

The Sisters High School band attended the State Music Championships for the sixth consecutive year and finished fourth out of 10 bands that were invited.

The competition was held at Oregon State University on Friday, May 12, and marked the fourth time in six years that the band has finished in the top five.

Director Jody Henderson said, “The band played great, giving what was for sure their best public performance of the year. We could have been listed in last place and I would not have had any regrets about it. I’m proud to say that the goal to perform to our best was achieved.”

Four judges were brought in from across the country to judge the event. This year judges represented university and conservatory music programs from Washington, Ohio and Missouri. Three of the judges score the bands’ prepared performances and one judge scores each band in sight reading a piece of music they have never heard nor seen before.

“The array of points awarded to Sisters could have easily earned them an even higher place in the finish,” said Henderson. “Sisters earned the second-highest sight reading score of the day and two of the three performance judges awarded points ranking Sisters in third place.”

South Umpqua took first place out of the 10. Burns finished in second place and LaGrande was third.