Last weekend, a group of Ballard High School music students traveled to Ellensburg to compete in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) and the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) State Solo and Ensemble Contests. The BHS students won in a number of categories.
According to the WIAA, the ensemble contest included small and large ensembles in seven categories: woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings, women’s vocal, men’s vocal and mixed vocal. There were 29 solo categories, including seven woodwind, five brass, four percussion, four strings, and six vocal categories, as well as piano, guitar and harp.
From BHS:
The Women’s Chamber Choir and the Men’s Vocal Quartet of Macklin Hamilton, Jesse Taylor, Jacob Kirk and Philip Anderson received the highest rating of straight Superior scores by the 3 judges. The Women’s Trio of Ellie Newby, Marley Niland and Hali Erickson received an Overall Superior rating. Outstanding performances were also given by Ellie Newby, Marley Niland and Natalia Roberts-Buceta in the soprano and mezzo soprano categories. The Percussion Trio of Jon Caparino, Rena Evans and William Helton won 3rd Place in State and Joe Palasz won 1st Place and the State Championship for Guitar! Congratulations to all of these Ballard Musicians!
Photos courtesy of Courtney Rowley and Michael James
