West Salem Wins State Full Orchestra: The West Salem High Symphony celebrate their taking first place in full orchestra at the 2013 OSAA Full Orchestra State Championship, at Oregon State University, on Thursday, May 9, 2013.
The McNary High Symphony Orchestra performs during the 2013 OSAA Orchestra State Championship, at Oregon State University, on Thursday, May 9, 2013.
West Salem High music director Daryl Silberman leads her symphony in a warm up before performing during the 2013 OSAA Full Orchestra State Championship, at Oregon State University, on Thursday, May 9, 2013. / TIMOTHY J. GONZALEZ / Statesman Journal
UPDATE 9:50 p.m.
CORVALLIS – West Salem High School took first place for full orchestra and second for string orchestra Thursday night at the 2013 Orchestra State Championships at Oregon State University.
Todd Zimbelman and Daryl Silberman direct the full orchestra; Silberman directs the string orchestra.
South Salem High School, directed by Brandon Correa and Benjamin Stokes, took third in full orchestra.
In string orchestra completion, third place went to Sprague High School, directed by Steven Nelson; and fourth went to McNary High School, directed by Damien Berdakin.
The final listing for trophy winners was:
String orchestras: 1. Crescent Valley, Corvallis; 2. West Salem; 3. Sprague; 4. McNary; 5. Reynolds, Troutdale.
Full orchestras: 1. West Salem; 2. Sprague; 3. South Salem
Sixteen string orchestras and five symphony orchestras (strings plus brass, winds and percussion) competed in the daylong event, sponsored by the Oregon School Activities Association.
North High School’s symphony qualified for the competition but did not get one of the limited number of performance slots.
Each group’s performance was rated by three judges who could award up to 100 points apiece. An extra 60 points hinged on groups’ ability to sight-read unfamiliar music in a closed-to-the-public session.
The OSAAs 6A (large schools) music competition continues Friday with choir at George Fox University in Newberg. 6A bands will compete Saturday at OSU.
Original story at 4:03 p.m.
CORVALLIS – Midway through the 2013 Orchestra State Championships, adrenaline is high at Oregon State University’s LaSells Stewart Center.
String orchestras from North Salem, McNary and McKay high schools have taken the stage. Those from West Salem, Sprague and South Salem are coming up this afternoon.
The evening belongs to full symphony orchestras. Four of the five are from Salem-Keizer: McNary, South Salem, Sprague and West Salem. (The lone other district? David Douglas.)
The day has been especially thrilling for groups from McNary and McKay, which don’t make it to state with the regularity of some other Salem-Keizer schools.
“We were super excited” to learn the the McNary string orchestra would perform,” said bass player Taylor McCoin. “We just want to have fun, play music and play our hearts out.”
McKay director James Charnholm led his players through an exacting warmup, seeking to eliminate any chance of tone problems during their performance. “Challenge yourselves to find something new in this performance,” he encouraged his players just before they filed onto the stage.
Each group’s performance is rated by three judges who can award up to 100 points apiece. An extra 60 points hangs in the balance at the private sight-reading segment of the competition. Sight-reading is a private performance of a piece that the orchestra has never played before.
The awards ceremony is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. Many students have brought shorts and T shirts to stay until then.
