Musicians qualify for state solo event

Sisters High School musicians Sarah Douglass and Shalena Edmunson both qualified for the State Solo Competition that will be held Saturday, April 29, at the Corban College in Salem.

Douglass, who qualified for the second year in a row, sings mezzo soprano for both the SHS concert choir and the Jazz Choir. Sarah has been singing as far back as she can remember and has been involved in the school choirs since she was a sixth grader. In the seventh grade Douglass participated in the Youth Choir of Central Oregon.

Last summer, Douglass was selected to attend The Youth Choral Academy in Eugene, which is part of the Bach Festival. Recently, she was notified that she’d been selected to participate again this summer.

Douglass will sing two songs at the solo competition: “Wie Meloclien Zient ES Mir” by Brahms and “Che Faro Senza Eundice” from Claudio Monteverdi’s Opera L’Orfeo.

“The first piece is one of the classic German arias and the pronunciation is very difficult because the German language is very articulate,” said Douglass. “The Italian piece is a song with a much wider range that requires a lot of breath support.”

Douglass has been preparing for State since March and is excited about the opportunity.

“I’m really looking forward to competing again this year,” she said. “It is an amazing learning experience. Singing is such a passion for me that it is fun to go, sing the best that I can and learn in the process.”

Shalena Edmunson plays the alto sax and qualified for State for the first time this year.

Shalena has been playing the alto sax for four years and will be required to play one piece of music.

Edmunson said she chose Bernard Heiden’s “Sonata for E flat Saxophone and Piano.”

Shalena told The Nugget that parts of the song were definitely very hard and required lots of practice.

“I’ve had this song for about a year and my motivation was to play it at State, but I didn’t really expect to qualify,” she said. “The piece isn’t as intimidating any more because I’ve been working on it a long time but I’m still nervous about the competition but also very excited at the same time.

“As the competition gets closer I’m getting more nervous but I’m really looking forward to the experience. It’s something I’ve never done before and to qualify for State signifies my progress as a musician.”

Band director Jody Henderson said, “Shalena has shown so much dedication studying music over the last two years. I am happy she has earned the honor of being one of only five instrumental music students from Sisters High to ever be invited to attend the State Solo Music Competition.”