In The News: Music in the air at NHS this spring

Department enjoying great success this spring qualifying several groups and individuals for state

Even more telling than the Newberg High School symphonic choir’s second place finish at the Three Rivers League district meet April 7, was feedback it received after doing a clinic with University of Oregon director of choir Sharon Paul.

This spring has been a banner one for the entire music department at NHS, which was further hammered home when Paul told the choir and director Robert Hawthorne that their interpretation of “Sure on this Shining Night” was the best she’d heard any choir perform.

“That’s the kind of stuff that’s been happening this year with the choir,” Hawthorne said. “The kids are so invested in doing great work and they’re so united as a family and community and its showing up in these incredible accomplishments. It’s very exciting.”

The symphonic choir received an at-large bid to the state championships May 9 at George Fox University after being selected from the “tape pool” of non-automatic-qualifying schools, but is just one of several Newberg groups and individuals that will compete for state title competitions in the coming weeks.

Newberg’s 16-member choir ensemble, VocalPoint, for instance, won the OMEA District 14 competition and will compete at 2:20 p.m. Friday at the Oregon State Small Ensemble Contest at Pacific University, which is a new event this year.

It will be a busy weekend for many in the music program, as Newberg’s brass trio, which is comprised of trombonist Thomas Gaumer, horn player Robert Bohall and tuba player Liam Hathaway, will perform at 1:40 p.m.

The group, which performed John Stevens’ “Triangles” at the April 14 Newberg School Board meeting (video available at youtube.com/ watch?v=JXL_E4Y3ka0), will compete in the brass ensemble category.

“It’s very modern, but really cool,” NHS band director Joel Tanner said of the piece. “They’ve been working on that so hard.”

Gaumer, along with clarinet player Anthony Bithell, also qualified in the solo competition, which will be held Saturday at Lewis & Clark College in Portland. Bithell will compete at 8:10 a.m., with Gaumer scheduled to play at 1 p.m.

Gaumer and Bithell will also be joined at the state solo competition by three members of the choir.

Both Luke Hartley (baritone) and Tyler Mays (tenor) won district voice titles, while JJ Olson (bass) placed second in baritone and also qualified. Olson will perform at 8:20 a.m. Saturday, followed by Hartley at 9:40 and Mays at 2:20 p.m.

“The kids are so responsive and they’re working so incredibly hard,” Hawthorne said.

Tanner’s top band, the wind ensemble, may also compete at the OSAA band and orchestra state championship May 16 at Oregon State University after placing fourth at the Three Rivers League District Festival.

Sherwood won that competition to earn the automatic bid to state, but Newberg also hit the qualifying standard by earning two performance scores of 75 or higher. Tanner’s group performed that feat at all three festivals it attended this year, including scores of 75, 77 and 79 at districts.

“It’s an amazing group of kids this group of seniors I have graduating,” Tanner said. “It’s an extremely talented group of kids and some of the best leadership I’ve ever had. They’re self-starters and high-level kids.”

The wind ensemble will learn Wednesday whether it has been selected from the tape pool, but either way, Tanner said he is quite proud of the year the entire program is having.

“It’s been a great spring musically,” Tanner said. “The choir is rocking, the band is rocking. We’ve had a good year and it’s nice to have that recognition.”

Written by: Seth Gordon