Region VI Band and Choir Festival
Courtesy of Mrs. Norris – Valdez High School Bands and Choir participated in the annual Aurora Music Festival, April 15- 17, hosted by Delta High School. The festival in most years is a gathering of 15 small schools. This year the festival included three schools who were able to attend–Delta, Whitestone, and Valdez.
1st Chair Honorees
Valdez had twelve students participating in the mass band and choir and the solo and ensemble adjudications. Every student had at least one adjudicated performance. In an opening concert on Thursday, the Concert Band, Choir, and Jazz Band performed. On Friday morning the solo and ensemble competition commenced resulting in 94% of Valdez performances qualifying for State Solo and Ensemble by receiving a superior rating. This year the state qualifying performances will be submitted and adjudicated by ASAA virtually.
Ginger Keller and Isiah Silviera, Photo credit Kim Keller
The following students received superior ratings and State qualification:
Liam Roosma, alto sax solo, “Allegro” by Saint-Saens
Cameron Bowden, bari sax solo, “Alleluia” by Mozart
Jaelynn Adams, alto sax solo, “Nocturne” by Chopin
Jessica Britton, flute solo, “Minuet” by Bizet
Emory Disney, clarinet solo, “Isabella’s Lullaby” by Miura Jam
Piers Shirk, jazz solo, “Now’s the Time” by Charlie Parker
Alina Kockentiet, vocal solo, “Panis Angelicus” by Franck
Ginger Keller, vocal solo, “Poor Boy” American folk song
Blythe Ditman, musical theater solo, “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables
VHS Choir, mixed ensemble, “Sisi Ni Moja” by Jacob Naverud,
Isaiah Silveira, jazz vocal solo, “Summer Wind”
Chase Randall, jazz vocal solo, “Feeling Good”
Jaelynn Adams
These students received superior ratings and Command Performance Honors
Chase Randall, musical theater solo, “Words Fail” from Dear Evan Hansen
Jazz Band, “Perdido”
Jared Humphrey, trumpet solo, “Concert Etude” by Goedicke
Jared Humphrey
These students were received first chair honors by recorded audition:
Jessica Britton, flute
Emory Disney, clarinet
Jaelynn Adams, alto sax
Cameron Bowden, bari sax
Jared Humphrey, trumpet
Isaiah Silveira, string bass
Blythe Ditman, soprano 2
Ginger Keller, alto 2
Chase Randall, tenor 2
Honors list:
Landora Hammons, soprano 2
Piers Shirk, alto sax
Jojo Ferguson, flute
Kassidy Ferguson, percussion
Chase Randall
The Opening Concert and Final Concert can be viewed at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLAiRU70y5XboxwfbOMmKoA
The Bucs will have a concert open to the public on April 27 at 7:00pm. Location TBA.
VHS Band, Photo credit Kim Keller
Wrestling
Valdez High School Wrestling @ Colony Duals
Courtesy of Coach Isaac Deaton – Buccaneer wrestling finally kicked off this weekend at the Colony Duals where VHS wrestlers competed against wrestlers from Colony, West Valley, Hutchison, Wasilla, and Houston. Leading the team in the win column after our 1st competition is Alyvia Askren where she pinned opponents from Colony and Hutchison, improving to 2-0. Splitting matches were Jaxson Gallatin (1-1), Wyatt Williams (1-2), and William Benes (1-1), all of whom had to bump up weight classes to be able to wrestle. Falling to opponents from Colony and Houston is Mckennan Mayer who drops to 0-2 on the season. Overall, I am very proud of our team's effort and I look forward to our next competition where we will have our full roster traveling.
Results:
130 Jaxson Gallatin vs. Colony: Loss (Fall 4:47)
135 Jason Gallatin vs Houston: Win (Dec 10-8)
119 Wyatt Williams vs Wasilla: Loss (Dec)
125 Wyatt Williams vs West Valley: Loss (Fall 4:56)
125 Wyatt Williams vs Hutchison: Win (Fall 1:34)
285 William Benes vs Colony: Loss (Fall 2:54)
215 William Benes vs Hutchison: Win (Fall 5:15)
160 Mckennan Mayer vs Colony: Loss (Fall 1:03)
171 Mckennan Mayer vs Houston: Loss (Fall 1:02)
189G Alyvia Askren vs Colony: Win (Fall 4:25)
189G Alyvia Askren vs Hutchison: Win (Fall 0:49)