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Sisters Jazz Band takes district title
By Rongi Yost

The Sisters Jazz Band wowed the judges at two recent competitions.

Once again the Sisters High School Jazz Band, under the leadership of Jody Henderson, has proved it's the best in the region.

On Wednesday, May 1, the jazz band traveled to Sweet Home to compete against the seven other bands in the district. This was the band's third trip to district, and for the third year in a row it brought home top honors.

The district honors came on the heels of another signal accomplishment. The band placed second at a festival in Reno (see related story, page 10).

"The (district) competition is done in one venue and after each band performs, a 10 minute workshop and clinic is provided for each band," Henderson said. "All the other bands sit in on these clinics and are able to hear what suggested improvements the adjudicator has for them."

Dave Parker, Dean of Music at the University of Portland and professional jazz trombonist, was the official adjudicator this year.

Parker rated and judged the bands on: interpretation and programming of different jazz styles; quality and quantity of improvised solos; balance and blend; tone, articulation and phrasing. Each aspect was rated and compiled into a 100 point total rating system. Sisters scored the highest with a rating of 94.

Trombone players Robin Hoagland, Laura Campbell, and Eric King brought home an "outstanding section award," as did the rhythm section consisting of Ben Scharf, Mike Kurtz, Jason Berray and Wil Hansen.

Justin Little was also honored as "outstanding saxophonist."

Director Jody Henderson noted that Sisters is the smallest school in the district and the only school with both a varsity and a junior varsity band.

"Comments to our JV band were that they played with good overall jazz feel and performed great selections," Henderson noted.

Henderson said that the adjudicator, Dave Parker, e-mailed the varsity jazz band about their great performance and said, "Keep up the great work. You have a real passion for music. The world needs you to keep on doing exactly what you're doing."

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