The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

On Saturday four local band students traveled to Chehalis to compete in the annual regional solo/ensemble competition. All received the second highest possible score.

"This competition is where students perform either a solo or in a small ensemble or a large ensemble," Darla Mead, the Wahkiakum School District's music teacher said. "The festival is open to all schools in our region which extends from Tenino/Rochester south to Kalama and over to the coast."

"It is the equivalent of district competition in sports," she continued. "The winner in the high school division qualifies for the state championship competition. The second place performer is the first alternate to state."

The students must perform a classical or folk piece. They are graded on a scale between 1 and 5, five being the worst.

This was the second regional competition for sophomores Mica Kincade and Anna Kuhn who participated for the first time when they were in eighth grade.

"We go to solo/ensemble to not only perform and compete but for one on one with the judges who are all specialized in whatever instrument we have," Kincade, said. "It's really helpful to hear their hints. It's not always about the song but about how we play. It's kind of a fun experience, all in all."

"I like the extra advice and the time to listen to other people," she added.

Kincade started playing the alto sax in the sixth grade when her family gave her the instrument.

"I'm happy that it was the saxophone," Kincade said. "In sixth grade I really wanted to play the drums or the guitar, but I would think of Lisa Simpson and remember that her saxophone was cool! Now I really like it."

Kincade chose a song called Tumblers for her solo piece and joined Kuhn in a duet to a piece by the name of Slow Aire.

"We didn't play it slow enough," she laughed. "The judge came up and told us that it was the fastest she'd ever heard the piece played."

The duet was on Kuhn's mind as well. Kuhn plays the baritone sax.

When asked what she had learned at the event, she replied, "don't play fast!"

"I did rush in a few places," she admitted with a laugh.

Still, the stress at this year's competition was heightened by the number of people in the room when the two played. The judge was joined by three directors from other schools and several other students. It was enough to make most anyone play a little faster.

Kuhn chose Shenandoah as her solo piece.

"It didn't have that much coolness to it, so I kind of messed with it," Kuhn said. "I did crescendos and decrescendos in most places and accents so I could enunciate it.

"I heard people play harder pieces," Kuhn added. "It doesn't matter how difficult the piece is, it just matters how you play it."

She plans to participate in the competition again.

Kuhn started playing the alto sax in seventh grade. She switched to the tenor sax but fell in love with the large, strange looking baritone sax when she saw it in the band room. She's been playing it for three years now.

"I want to keep playing after high school," Kuhn said. "Someday I hope to own an alto, tenor and baritone sax."

Kincade, who hopes to teach music and write, was encouraged that she and her fellow high school bandmates were joined by an eighth grader, David Thompson, who plays the trumpet.

"It was really cool to see," she said, "and cool to see that he performed so well."

Thompson performed Aria by J.S. Bach.

Junior Jack Leavitt started playing the tuba when his dad suggested it might be a good way to get a scholarship for college, his logic being that there aren't many tuba players.

This was Leavitt's first trip to the solo/ensemble competition. Despite the fact that participating was optional, he might lead you to believe he got roped into it.

"Teacher told me I was going to do it," Leavitt said. "It was like, 'Oh by the way, you are going to solo ensemble with us. Pick a piece.'"

He acquiesced, and in his version, Darla Mead, or Teacher, jumped on that.

"Oh by the way," she told him, "it's this week!"

What else was there to do but select a piece and practice it for the next week? He picked out the Marines' Hymn.

He hummed a few bars.

"I just gave her a bad time about it," he said. "I thought it would be pretty cool. If you win, you get to go to state. There were seven tubas there, including me. I thought my odds were pretty good."

He continued his story at Teacher's expense.

"I was playing the song for Teacher," he said. "'You're playing it wrong,' she told me."

He had less than a week.

"I don't care at this point, Teacher," Leavitt told her.

"Apparently I have really good tone. I was playing it for the judge and he looks right at me and says, 'nice job on your notes!'" Leavitt laughed. "I looked across the room at the Teacher and said, 'told you so!'"

Leavitt is taking flying lessons and learning to play the banjo as well.

The competition continues for vocal students on February 20 in Chehalis. At least one WHS student plans to participate.