Jazz bands earn honors at festival

Sisters High School Varsity Jazz Band was awarded first place for the second consecutive year at the 23rd annual Northwest Jazz Band Festival.

The high school and middle school jazz band program attended the festival competition on May 6, at Mt. Hood Community College.

The Middle School Jazz Quintet placed third in the open middle school small group division behind Seattle schools Eckstein and Washington.

Four groups from Sisters schools participated in the event. The Sisters High School Jazz Quintet was ranked fourth in the open division of jazz small groups representing all high schools, regardless of size, including magnet arts schools and performing arts academies.

The Sisters JV Jazz Band gave a great performance as well in the Junior High/Middle School Division, but was not eligible for award as a band because enrollment included some 10th graders.

Many Sisters students were awarded outstanding musician awards based on individual performance with the bands. Awardees from Sisters Middle School were: Blake Henderson — vibraphone, Trevor Ford — bass, Tanner Smith — drums.

Awardees from Sisters High School were: Benji Nagel — guitar, Justin Veloso — drums, Sam Orwig — drums, Jared Henderson — bass and sousaphone, Wesley Ford — piano, Levi Goins — baritone saxophone, Shalena Edmunson — flute and saxophone, Tyson Edmunson — trumpet.

This performance marked the end of a very successful year for the Sisters Jazz Band program. The remainder of the year will be dedicated to audition and organization to establish next year’s Jazz Bands.

Three high school seniors will graduate from the Jazz Band program: Benji Nagel, Clifton Williams, and Justin Veloso all plan on studying music further in college.