Wenatchee High School music students stood out at the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) State Solo and Ensemble Contest held at Central Washington University on April 25-26. Notable WHS students were seniors Tess Fox and Drew Jaeger, sophomore Dylan Ryan and freshman Spencer Engel.

The students performed after qualifying at the Regional Solo and Ensemble Contest Jan. 25 and Feb. 1. The WHS Golden Apple Band sent six ensembles: Large Woodwind Ensemble, Small Woodwind Ensemble, Large Brass Ensemble, Small Brass Ensemble, Large Percussion Ensemble and Small Percussion Ensemble, and five soloists: seniors Jack Murray, Josh Willey and Fox, Ryan and Engel. The WHS Chamber Orchestra attended, as well as choir member Jaeger.

The Chamber Orchestra earned an Honorable Mention in the Large Strings Ensemble category.

“We worked really hard for it the entire year so far, our group is so small that every little thing can be heard so it required a lot of personal practice, we got through everything really well so I think that we did a good job,” junior Mattie Cordova said.

Jaeger was the only choir student to compete at State. He received an Honorable Mention in the Tenor Voice category, competing against more than 20 tenors. He performed 2 songs, “O Del Mio Amato Ben” and “A Horse With Wings.”

“Personally I think I did really well, it never happened before and I was really hoping to place but there were more than 20 tenors so personally I think I did really well,” Jaeger said.

Murray competed in the clarinet solo and saxophone solo categories, earning two Superior ratings and 1 excellent rating, and three Good ratings respectively, and Willey got two Superior ratings and an Excellent rating in the trumpet solo category.

“I feel I did pretty good, I’ve been to State in the past and [this] is about what I’ve got in previous years,” Murray said.

Ryan got Honorable Mention in Snare Drum Solo, Fox got Honorable Mention in Mallet Solo and Multiple Percussion Solo, and Engel got Honorable Mention in Multiple Percussion Solo and Timpani Solo.

Fox also competed in the Piano Solo category, earning two Excellent ratings and one Good rating.

‘The Andrew Johnson Experience’ earned Honorable Mention in Large Percussion Ensemble. The group consisted of seniors Fox and Darbi Colson, juniors Cierra Wright, Grayson Hagopian, Andy Johnson and Allie Wright, sophomore Jonathan Higgins, and freshmen Julian Hernandez, Andy Schmidt, Isabel Howell and Spencer Engel.

‘The Hot Scots’ got Honorable Mention in Small Percussion Ensemble. The group consisted of Hernandez and Schmidt.

“The kids did a great work, and all of that hard work was definitely paid off,” Band Director Jim Kovach said.

All music groups are currently gearing up for the spring concert season.