Soloists qualify for state competition in May

Three NHS choirs and six soloists competed in the Oregon Music Educators Association (OMEA) District 14 Vocal Solo and Ensemble Contest held at Wilsonville High School on Saturday, February 22nd. For the first time in five years, Newberg was represented at this event, with 41 singers participating in District Solo and Ensemble Contest. The competition included eight high schools south of Portland from Lake Oswego to McMinnville.

On the Solo Vocal side of the competition:

• Garrett Gibbs (12 Grade) won the Tenor Voice Senior Competitive Division and will compete at OSAA State Solo Competition on May 3rd.

• Haley Harn (12 Grade) placed 3rd in the Mezzo Soprano Voice Senior Competitive Division and is 1st Alternate for OSAA State Solo Competition.

• RJ Young, Luke Hartley and Tommy Stallone received Excellent Ratings in the Senior Competitive Division. Alesha Garand received Excellent Comments in the Novice Voice Division.

On the Vocal Ensemble side of the competition:

• VocalPoint, Men's Choir and Women's Choir all received top rank with Superior Ratings.

Students spent the morning observing performances and voice coaching by the adjudicators. It was noted by more than one adjudicator that the students from Newberg presented themselves with remarkable professionalism and ease both as performers, and as audience members, according to NHS Choir Director Robert Hawthorne.

"Students learned a lot, saw the journey and pathway to excellence and took the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency and mastery level performance as both individuals and as vocal teams," said Hawthorne.

OSAA State solo contest is May 3, 2014 and the Choir Championship is May 10 at George Fox University.