WHS sends 11 musicians to State competition
A total of 11 winners for Solo and Ensemble and 14 alternates will be going to State Solo and Ensemble contest on April 24-25 representing Wenatchee High School, after competing at WHS in recent weeks during the regional contest.
Band Director Jim Kovach
“It’s always rewarding to have most of the winner and alternates from the regional contest,” Band Director Jim Kovach said.
Sophomore Kendal Buak won the competition for her solo on the clarinet. She has played the clarinet since sixth grade, and started taking private lessons in seventh grade. For her solo, she had to prepare a piece for a judge and perform it for a score.
“I didn’t expect winning the competition,” Buak said. “[It] feels pretty good to make it to State this year.”
From here, she will move up to State on April 24 and compete against everyone that won in the clarinet category.
Sophomore Spencer Engel will be going to State for timpani, and for his ensemble group, along with being first alternate for State on the snare drum.
In middle school you get the option either sports clubs or music or even some of both, I chose the music department and that turned out to be the right choice.
— Sophomore Spencer Engel
Since sixth grade, Engel has been interested in music. “In middle school you get the option either sports clubs or music or even some of both, I chose the music department and that turned out to be the right choice,” Engel said.
Winners from WHS that won for solo categories are:
- Junior Rhiannon Schaub on cello
- Sophomore Kendal Buak on clarinet
- Sophomore Julian Hernandez on snare drum
- Senior Cierra Wright on marimba
- Sophomore Andy Schmidt on multiple percussion
- Sophomore Spencer Engle on timpani
The winners for ensembles are:
- Small Percussion Ensemble
- Large Percussion Ensemble
- Small Woodwind Ensemble
- Large Woodwind Ensemble
- Large String Ensemble
The WHS alternates are:
- Sophomore Spencer Engel on snare drum
- Senior Patricio Alvarez on multiple percussion
- Small Woodwind Ensemble
- Senior Riley Rosser on clarinet
- Large Woodwind Ensemble
- Sophomore Christina Heater on flute
- Senior Claire Devereaux on flute
- Senior Jessie Fore on violin
- Sophomore Sabrina Zhu on cello
- Large String Ensembles
- Large Brass Ensembles
- Small Brass Ensembles
