Junior high bands earn honors at UIL solo and ensemble

Eighth grade band members are, left to right: (row one) Peyton Beasley, Rebekah Bush, Camryn Crone, Timothy Cummins, Gwyne Dunlap, Ashley Evans, Jessica Fite, Rebecca Green, (row tow) Sadie Haire, Chelsey Ivie, Heather Jameson, Rachel Keiningham, Meagan Kenney, Julie Licht, Chase Magness, (row three) Sarah Mastin, Spencer McDonald, Kate Mohr, Shawn Montgomery, James Moran, Bethany Peek, Dana Pierce, (row four) Stephanie Recchia, Reid Tracy, Choe Scott, Brookelyn Skiver, Caleb Stewart, Daniel Walton, Hayden Whisenhunt, Jennifer Wieland and Dylan Horinek. Not pictured are April Fleming, Emily Karlson and Lana McNeill

On Saturday, Feb. 9, select members of the Whitehouse Junior High School seventh and eighth grade bands participated in the Region 21 Solo and Ensemble contest in Nacogdoches.

Students were judged and given ratings based on musical performance: Division 1 -Superior, Division 2 - Excellent, Division 3 - Good, Division 4 - Fair and Division 5 - poor. Students from WJHS received 75 First Division Superior ratings and medals and nine Second Division Excellent ratings. Music performed was selected from the University Interscholastic League Prescribed Music List with styles ranging from classical, folk song, and contemporary.

Seventh grade band members are, left to right: (row one) Laura Brock, Alison Bryans, Ashlyn Burton, Raylene Camp, Kim Carpio, Travis Carter, Timothy Cummins, (row two) Jackson Driggs, Briana Edmonds, Lexie Gentry, Cameron Corbett, Taylor Parker, Cedrick Crawford, (row three) Alex Johnson, Mitchell Licht, Colin Mears, Audra Oliver, Morgan Prothro, (row four) Jessa Seagaya, Rachel Smart, Michelle Stewart, Seth Swinney, Aaron Uribe, Brian Western and Jessica White. Not pictured are Ashley Evans, Sarah Farmer, Ethan Sala and Andrew Warren.

Students earning 2nd Division Excellent ratings on Class III solos were: Ashley Evans - Flute, Raylene Camp - Flute, Michelle Stewart - B-flat Clarinet, Bethany Peek - Bass Clarinet. Earning 2nd Division Excellent ratings on Class II solos were - Rachael Keiningham - Bflat Clarinet, Chase Magness - Alto Saxophone, Caleb Stewart - Trumpet and Daniel Walton - Trumpet.

The following students earned 2nd Division ratings in Class III woodwind ensemble performance: Laura Brock, Lexie Gentry, Jessica White - Bflat Clarinet Trio.

Earning 1st Division ratings in Class III ensemble performance were: Allison Bryans, Ashlyn Burton, Mary Hipp - Flute Trio; Dana Pierce, Chloe Scott, Jennifer Wieland, Kate Mohr - Flute Quartet; Chase Magness, Spencer McDonald, Lana McNeill, Seth Swinney - Saxophone Quartet; Jackson Driggs, Alex Johnson, Ethan Sala - Mixed Saxophone Trio; Cameron Gorbett, Heather Jameson, Meagan Kenney, Brian Western - Four Brass; Perry Hill, Erica Hoffman, Colin Mears - Snare Drum Trio.

In Class II Ensemble performance, 1st Division medal recipients were: April Fleming, Emily Karlson, Kate Mohr - Flute Trio; Sadie Haire, Sarah Mastin, Stephanie Recchia, Hayden Whisenhunt - B-flat Clarinet Quar tet; Peyton Beasley, Rebekah Bush, Gwyne Dunlap, Meagan Kenney - French Horn Quartet.

The following woodwinds received Division I ratings in Class III solo performance: Rebecca Green - Flute, Dana Pierce - Flute, Jessica Seagaya - Flute, Jennifer Wieland - Flute, Sarah Mastin - B-flat Clarinet, Julie Licht - Bass Clarinet, Kim Carpio - Alto Saxophone, Sarah Farmer - Alto Saxophone.

Brass Students earning lst Division solo medals were: Camryn Crone - Trumpet, Mitchell Licht - Trumpet, Morgan Prothro - Trumpet, Andrew Warren - Trumpet, Brian Western - Trumpet, Travis Carter - Trombone, Chelsey Ivie - Trombone, Aaron Uribe - Trombone, Cedrick Crawford - Euphonium, Taylor Parker - Euphonium, Camryn Gorbett - Euphonium.

Earning top honors in Class II solo performance were: April Fleming - Flute, Emily Karlson- Flute, Kate Mohr - Flute, Chloe Scott - Flute, Stephanie Recchia - B-flat Clarinet, Lana McNeill - Alto Saxophone, Seth Swinney - Alto Saxophone, Peyton Beasley - French Horn, Rebekah Bush - French Horn, Gwyne Dunlap - French Horn, Dylan Horinek -Snare Drum, Reid Tracy - Snare Drum, Timothy Cummins - Timpani, Jessica Fite - Xylophone.

In Class I solo performance, Brookelyn Skiver received a 1st Division rating on a B-flat Clarinet Solo. James Moran earned a 1st Division rating on a Class I Snare Drum Solo.

"The students were superior citizens on a mission to perform at a superior level. Their dress and demeanor was exemplary," said Jerry Gober, junior high band director.

"These accomplishments are results of many hours of hard work and musical preparation for performance."