The CHS Concert Band competes at the OSAA State Concert Band Competition at OSU on May 9. PHOTO PROVIDED/ALESHA CULP
The local community has another reason to take pride in its talented student musicians, as Creswell High School’s Concert Band and Jazz Band 1, both led by Music Director Sandi Green, both qualified to advance to state-level competition this year.
The Concert Band competed in the OSAA State Concert Band Competition, held May 9 in the LaSells Stewart Center at Oregon State University.
The band performed ”They Led My Lord Away, ”The Old Red Mill” and Earthdance.” Performance recordings are available on the Creswell Music Program Facebook page.
Next, the band competed in sight-reading. ”That was a brand-new event for us,” said Creswell Music Boosters President Mandy Hoggard.
The students were given a score they’d never seen before and had a chance to study it; then Green had a small window of time to lead them through some of the rehearsal marks before performing the piece for an adjudicator.
”Our group scored very strong in this,” Hoggard said.
Although the band did not place at state, ”we performed beautifully,” Hoggard said. ”We came away with a stronger understanding of this whole process and are looking forward to competing again next year.”
The Concert Band qualified for state by winning the 3A division during a state-qualifying competition held March 2 at Warner Pacific University.
CHS Jazz Band 1 competes in the OMEA State Jazz Band Competition this Saturday at Mt. Hood Community College.
