Student musicians garner honors

Five members of the jazz band from Sisters Middle School and Sisters High School received awards January 28 during the Oregon Jazz Festival at the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance in Eugene.

Recipients of Outstanding Musicianship Awards were Lydia Bartlett, freshman, alto sax; Oscar Rhett, seventh grade, bass; Simon Rhett, eighth grade, tenor sax; Max Springer, eighth grade, trumpet; and Jack Ogan, eighth grade, trombone/tuba.

"I wasn't surprised by how good they sounded because I know how far they have come this year," said jazz band director Tyler Cranor. "However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much work they put in over winter break, and with all of the snow days.

"We performed 'A Night in Tunisia,' which is by far the most difficult tune we have tackled so far. I was stressed about it because I hadn't seen the whole band between December 15 and January 9. They came back ready to go, and really dug in the two weeks before the festival."

The event was educational, not competitive. Students performed for 30 minutes, then received a clinic by a professional jazz musician, followed by a 30-minute sectional from graduate music students at the University of Oregon, Cranor said.

Members of the Sisters jazz band are Barlett, Conner Martin, Nancy Montecinos, Simon Rhett and Nathaniel Hicks, saxophone; Novotny, flute; Kaylee Huber and Ogan, trombone; Dalton Gonzalas, Springer, Hollie Lewis, Eli Johnson and Sydney Wilkins, trumpet.

The band's rhythm section includes Ben Hills, Judah Keeton, Sam Dierenger-Lukens, drums; Oscar Rhett, bass; Nick Manley, piano; and Johnny Burrer, guitar.

The band will take part in the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival on May 5-6, which will be a competitive event.