Article from Statesman Journal

Orchestras play to qualify for state event
Some area schools' choirs, bands also heading to championships

Link: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008804130344

EUNICE KIMStatesman Journal
April 13, 2008

Rachel Gage, 17, sat at the end of a lunch table, practicing violin. As others mingled around her, she quietly played scales and worked on her bow technique.

Gage wanted to make sure she was ready to take the stage with Sprague Symphony Orchestra.
"I've been looking forward to proving that we can be the best we can be," she said. "I'm really excited."

Gage, a junior at Sprague High School, was among the students who participated Saturday in the Salem-Keizer High School Orchestra Invitational Festival at North Salem High School. Seven string and five symphony orchestras from Salem-Keizer and Reynolds high schools performed during the daylong event, which was a qualifier for the state championships May 9 at Oregon State University. The orchestras each played several pieces they had prepared as well as one they had to sight read.

String orchestras from McNary, Sprague, South, West and Reynolds high schools qualified for state, with Sprague scoring the highest and thereby earning an automatic spot at state. The other four groups will submit an application and tape recording to Oregon State Activities Association. A panel of judges will determine which of the groups will go to state.

In the symphony orchestra category, Reynolds placed first, with North, Sprague, South and West also qualifying.

For some students, qualifying for the state championships wasn't the main focus.

"I'm just here to make beautiful music with my friends," said Jonathan Anderson, a senior at South Salem High School who plays violin. "I'd like to make it to state to play more music, but that's not what I care most about."

Garrett Maltzan, a freshman at West Salem High School, said he enjoys competing, especially against his friends at other schools. He played bass with West Salem Symphony Orchestra, which already had qualified for state before Saturday's festival.

"This is a chance to play our songs in front of an audience," Maltzan said.

The festival showcased the strength of the district's music program, said Brandon Correa, an orchestra director at South Salem High.

"It shows how much quality we have here with our community supporting our orchestras," he said. "Every school is producing great musicians and fabulous music."

Bands got a chance to shine Friday at Central Valley League Band Festival at North Salem High School. Eight bands from Salem-Keizer, Redmond and Reynolds high schools competed in the event, which was a qualifier for state.

West Salem's wind ensemble placed first and automatically will go to state May 10 at OSU, said Karl Raschkes, supervisor of music for Salem-Keizer School District. The rest of the bands qualified and could move on to state.

"We are the only league in the state where all of the bands qualified for state this year," Raschkes said. "It's pretty unique."

High school choirs from the area also competed at the district level last week during the District 4 Choral Festival at Willamette University. Seventeen choirs from Salem-Keizer, Dallas, Silverton and Central high schools participated, with Sprague Concert Choir placing first and clinching an automatic spot at state, said Lee Kirkegaard, a music teacher at Leslie Middle School.

Groups from South, McNary, West, North, Dallas and Silverton high schools also qualified and will send tapes to the OSAA to see who goes to the state championships May 3 at George Fox University.

Back at North Salem High School, Natasha Geiling, 17, was feeling pretty good about South Salem Chamber Orchestra's performance Saturday.

"I'm proud of us," said Geiling, who plays violin. "I think we came together well."

ekim@statesmanjournal.com or (503) 399-6721