Hitting a high note: SHS band members honored

By Mary Owen

Several Stayton High School musicians are making headway with their playing – and headlines at the state’s oldest music festival.

Five band and seven choir members were chosen recently to participate in Music in May at Pacific University in Forest Grove. More than 500 students from around the Pacific Northwest participate in this event, to take place May 28-30.

“It’s a sign that they’ve all really grown musically,” said SHS bands director Rich Dickson, who has taught music at the high school since 2001. “They’ve all grown musically and are achieving a lot of success.”

Band members chosen to participate are: Aemilia Crenshaw, flute; Gabriel Higginbotham, clarinet; Matthew Pizzuto, tenor saxophone; Kyle Gauthier, French horn; and Dan Russo, trombone.

“Aemilia is a senior who has applied before and was accepted this year,” Dickson said. “Gabriel was involved in the Oregon All-State Band and then selected into the Western International Honor Band that plays in Seattle every year.

“Matthew, Kyle and Dan are all playing for the first time this year,” he said. “Kyle was voted most-improved student last year.”

Dickson said all five have learned “a lot of musical knowledge very quickly,” and are excited to be playing for Music in May, the highlight of their performance year. Performances start with fall football games, the Capital Conference Showcase and Christmas program in winter, and the Capital Conference Band Festival and SHS Spring Concert in spring.

“They also play for other schools in the North Santiam School District,” Dickson said of his 28 band members.

Choir students showcasing their singing abilities at Music in May are: Kristi Alford, Jake Becker, Rochelle Cash, Jesseca Johnson, Courtney Richards, Caitlin Settgast and Meagan Usselman. Choir director is Diane Allen-Jackson.

Music in May was founded in 1948 at Pacific University by Richard Greenfield to encourage the development of string music in Pacific Northwest public schools. Band and choir were added at the suggestion of high school music directors, who saw in the festival a means of recognizing students whose service to their schools was especially noteworthy.

Each year, the number of nominees for places at Music in May far exceeds the number accepted, according concert officials. Each applicant is scored by his or her band directors on such elements as ability to read music and level of playing. The comments are then mulled over by panel of judges. Students showcased this year will be 300 in choir, 170 in band and 80 in orchestra.

“You never know who will get picked,” Dickson said. “Sometimes it will be only one student from the school. Twelve of our students were chosen this year. That’s phenomenal!”

Participants’ achievements in three days, under distinguished guest conductors, culminate in a Saturday afternoon concert that represents not only their own efforts, but that of some 170 high school directors who have developed their students’ talents, say Music in May officials.

Guest conductors for this year’s concert are:

• Orchestra – Col. Arnald Gabrial, conductor emeritus of the United States Air Force Band.

• Choir – Mia Hall Savage, artistic director of the Pacific Youth Choir.

• Band – John Lynch, director of bands for the University of Georgia.

More about Music in May is available at pacificu.edu/mim.