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Local music students head to state festival

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POLSON — It’s spring, time for tulips and daffodils, ant there’s music in the air — at least there will be in Missoula for the Montana High School Association State Music Festival May 3-4. High school music students who received a superior rating at the MHSA District Music Festival will attend the state music festival on the University of Montana campus.  

PHS’s Kristin Young said, “District is so intense. There is not as much pressure for state.” 

Agreeing with Young, Kylie Koberg, PHS sophomore, said with four people in the room, a student can watch the adjudicator and learn from other people. 

Sarah Rausch, PHS, is returning for her second year at state. Not only is state a lot of fun, Rausch said, but she learns a lot and gets a different perspective on how to sing and how to interpret music. 

“I’m really looking forward to state,” PHS senior Cydnie Hedeen said. “It’s a big accomplishment. I really surprised myself by doing so well.” 

Earning a berth at state and working hard all year has netted Hedeen a letter in choir. Now her mother has to buy two letter jackets: one for Cydnie and one for her brother, a wrestler, Hedeen said with a big smile. 

Senior Travis Hayes has earned a trip to state all four years. What impresses Hayes is the improvement between district and state and how hard students work.

PHS band instructor Rich Sawyer said, “It’s a great opportunity for the kids to listen to other groups around the state. There’s growth on many levels.” 

Judges at district were tougher this year, Sawyer said, and Polson’s spring break was just before district, so not as many students qualified.. 

Sending 33 choir students to state, PHS choir teacher Dawn Matt said, “All of my kids have been working really hard. They’ve become great readers.” 

Ronan music teacher Alicia Lipscomb said 24 Ronan High School students would be performing at state. At district, Ronan’s Concert Choir received a “good” rating and Show Choir received an “excellent” rating, under the direction of Rebecca Seago. Concert Band and Jazz Band also received superior ratings under Lipscomb’s direction.

The following students also earned a trip to state: Tyson Allen, jazz band; Sarah Anderson, jazz band; Tyler Anderson, jazz band; Daniel Aylesworth, jazz band; Zach Big Bow, bass duo; Bryce Cullen, jazz band; Joey Dresen, jazz band, clarinet solo; Ryan Dresen, horn solo, horn chorus; Ottis Ferrell, jazz band, bass duo; Bradly Findly, jazz band; Trae Garcia, jazz band; Selene Kelly, vocal solo; Hannah Kiehn, vocal solo; Feli Ludwig, jazz band; Shaelyn Miller, flute solo; Ma’ii Peter, vocal solo; Siliye Pete, vocal solo; Ashley Peterson, piano solo; Daniel Romero, jazz band, horn solo, horn duo, horn chorus; Shannon Saint, jazz band, horn solo, horn duo, horn chorus; Carston Rhine, flute solo; Justin Shourds, jazz band; Logan Soukkala, jazz band; and Bria Waldron, jazz band.

 

MHSA District Music Festival, Polson High School results

 

Large Ensemble 

Superior, Concert Choir and Sight Reading 

Excellent, Women’s Select Choir and Sight Reading; Mixed Choir and Sight Reading; PHS Symphonic Band Performance and Sight Reading 

Good, PHS Concert Band Performance and Sight Reading 

 

Solo and Ensemble Ratings

 

Superior 

Piano Solo: Kylle Koberg 

Vocal Solo: Taylor Brackey, Sheldon Clairmont, Lydia DuPuis, Cydnie Hedeen, Elizabeth Jore, Sam Kinzie, Kylie Koberg, Sarah Rausch, Ian Ricketts, Krysta Seville, Kania Smith, Damon Whealon, Kristin Young 

Vocal Duet: Sheldon Clairmont/Hannah Hodges; Sheldon Clairmont/Sarah Rausch; Sam Kinzie/Ian Ricketts 

Vocal Ensemble: Concert Choir Men (Preston Alexander, Nolan Allen, Zach Aman, Matt Cardoza, Drew Carruth, Sheldon Clairmont, Travis Hayes, Sam Kinzie, Eric Matt, Dalton Noyes, Ian Ricketts, Jared Rubel, Zach Schmidt, Cash Sisler, Damon Whealon);

Concert Choir Women (Kaitlyn Burrowes, Emmy Driscoll, Hannah Hodges, Alisha Jore, Elizabeth Jore, Melina Jore, Krysta Seville, Clara Siegelin, Ceara Snyder, Rosie Stanfield, Amanda Stobie, Selah Waldron, Kristin Young)

Connection — Sheldon Clairmont, Emmy Driscoll, Hannah Hodges, Eric Matt, Dalton Noyes, Sarah Rausch, Kania Smith, Seara Snyder, Damon Whealon, Kristin Young

Jore 3 plus 1 — Alisha Jore, Elizabeth Jore, Melina Jore, Kristin Young

Jore Trio —  Alisha Jore, Elizabeth Jore, Melina Jore 

Koberg Trio — Kylie Koberg, Linnea Madsen, Sarah Rausch 

 

Solo and Ensemble Ratings

 

Superior 

Instrumental Solo: saxaphone Kylie Koberg, Taylor Rost; trumpet Kristin Young 

Instrumental Ensemble: saxaphone quartet - Quinn Harlan, Melina Jore, Taylor Rost, Damon Whealon 

 

Excellent 

Piano Solo: Thomas Mercer 

Vocal Solo: Preston Alexander; Nolan Allen; Emmy Driscoll; Melina Jore; Eric Matt; Rosie Stanfield; 

Vocal Duet: Kaitlyn Burrowes/Eric Matt; Cortnie Ellenwood/ Abryonna Fisher; Jake Allen/Kim Holland; Jake Allen/Selah Waldron; Melina Jore/Kristin Young; Krysta Seville/Rosie Stanfield; Kania Smith/Damon Whealon 

Vocal Ensemble: Brackey Trio, Taylor Brackey, Kendall Polk, Ruby Roberts; Connection Women,   Emmy Driscoll, Hannah Hodges, Sarah Rausch, Kania Smith, Ceara Snyder, Kristin Young 

Instrumental Solo: Clarinet, Linnea Madsen;Trumpet, Brian Jore; Trombone Solo, Morgan Moll 

Instrumental Ensemble:  Clarinet/flute duet: Brianna Harrison, McKenna Sampson; Clarinet choir: Trevor Basler, Cosmo Garza, Brianna Harrison, Malysa Lamphere, Linnea Madsen, Austin Martinez, Allen Turner; Flute duet, Alicia Jore, McKenna Sampson; PHS Brass trio, Brian Jore, Morgan Moll, Kristen Young; PHS Flute quartet: Alicia .lore, McKenna Sampson, Jaiden Tamcke, Selah Waldron; Saxophone duet: Kylie Koberg, Thomas Mercer; Saxaphone quartet: Dylan Cooper, Austin Martinez, Allen Turner, Damon Whealon 

 

Good 

Piano Solo: Emmy Driscoll Vocal Solo: Kim Holland 

Vocal Duet: Ceara Snyder/Amanda Stobie; Vocal Ensemble: Wild Horses, Preston Alexander, Matt Cardoza, Cash Sisler 

PHS Mallet Quartet: Sarah Howell, Linnea Madsen, Tessa Nunlist, Selah Waldron 

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