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Passion brings forth musical greatness
u V alorie W allace ____________
Staff Reporter
Known for sports,
academic accomplishments
and a reputable theater
program, WLHS also has a
renowned musical program.
Consisting of numerous choir
and instrumental groups,
over the school's history West
Linn has become a force to be
reckoned with on the musical
front.
"I love band because it
gives me a chance to express
myself! Band is cool because
we play really good music
and it's fun and laid back,"
Hayden McClellan, junior
trumpet, said.
A new band director,
Kevin Egan, stepped into the
spot left by Jeff Cumpston,
the previous band director
who moved last year with
his family to Zimbabwe.
Egan credits Cumpston with
the strength of the band
program. Egan's enjoyment
and appreciation of music
stems not only from a deeper
level of developing the
music, but also the listening
and experiencing of it
firsthand. It has brought him
to a new level of admiration
in creating the melodic work
of art.
The band and orchestra
have performed well at local
competitions, and with the
installment of a new director
State last year.
The Jazz Band continues
to be not only a top band in
the state, but in the greater
Northwest region as well.
audtition tape and be
specially selected. They
include Michael Biancardi,
junior, on jazz saxophone;
Kyle Brooks, senior, on jazz
failed to show the talent they
really have.
"The progress this year
has come from new players
and younger players filling
The Symphonic band plays in the three week postponed concert, on Jan 7. This band is one of the most
advanced instrumental groups and students must audition to be a member.
Photo by Phil Brooks
The band recently won
League for the 21st year
consecutively. The students
transitioned well to the new
band director.
"Mr. Egan has been doing
a really good job. He does
things how they used to be
done, but with his own style
and he listens to our input,"
Alexandra Mink, junior
clarinet, said. "Of course,
I still miss Cumpston, but
I couldn't think of a better
substitute."
trombone; Troy Cornelius,
sophomore, on bassoon;
Emma Davis, sophomore,
on flute; Samantha Ing,
sophomore, on violin; Charlie
Iwata, junior, on tuba;
Brittany Peterson, freshman,
on trumpet; Christina Smith,
sophomore, on oboe. In
addition to the All-State
bands Brooks and Davis have
also been specially selected
for the All-Northwest bands.
"I feel good about being
better than everyone else,"
vital roles left empty from
graduation and the returning
players stepping up into
leadership roles. It's always
fun to see who the next great
player is going to be. There's
a lot of talent in this school,"
Egan said.
With the band's impressive
performance level before his
arrival, Egan hopes that he
will be able to fill the shoes
of his predecessor. Though
thoroughly pleased with the
performance of students and
th a t Hasn't ch an ged . T h e
in s tr u m e n ta l g r o u p s hav e
M an y stu d en ts h ave
also b een accep ted to be
Iw ata jo k in g ly said abou t
w inning.
h op in g to keep the in teg rity
o f the p rog ram , h av in g a
qualified for the State contest
each year. The Symphony
Orchestra placed fourth in
in the All-State bands and
Orchestra. Each student
had to make a high quality
These students have risen
above expectations and no
student has disappointed or
larger amount of students
interested in music at the
high school level would
improve the band and
orchestra programs even
more according to Egan. It's
a change he would like to see
happen in the near future.
"The music program is
nice, but really neglected
because the school's money
goes to sports stuff we don't
need when there's lots of
music stuff needed," Iwata
said. He is deeply committed
to his music and would like
to see the program become
more of a priority in the
school community.
The bands and orchestras
continue to awe crowds. At
a recent concert they were
joined by the choir and
orchestra. It was the first
time that the three programs
have performed in musical
conjunction all in one night.
After having been postponed
for three weeks-, with the
original date during the snow
hiatus, Egan was pleased
with the level of commitment
and strength the instrumental
groups came back with.
Trying to create a
challenging and fun
environment where students
are excited and eager to
perform is one of Egan's
goals for the future.
"I'd like every student who
comes out of the WL program
to have a deep appreciation
for music, both as a
performer and as an audience
member. I hope their high
school experience is filled
with positive memories of
performing great music with
friends," Egan said.
ASB President gives insight on her busy everyday life
m A shley W elp ________________
reminders but occasionally
there's a memo that is
left out," Hanlin said.
Fortunately, those have
only been small
things such as
insignificant
meetings or a
phone call
here and
there, and
have all
been easily
fixed so
far.
events would be without
these groups' help and
participation. There are
Ever wonder what the
always students available to
Associated Student Body
help save the day," Hanlin
President really does? As
said.
it turns out, the elected
The administration
student is involved in much
is especially helpful in
more than just the weekly
planning and carrying
announcements. This year's
out ideas and events,
president, Samantha Hanlin,
according to Hanlin.
senior, is a part of all the
Everything the
projects and goals in the
ASB does eventually
Leadership classes. Every
passes through the
day is unpredictable and
administration.
different from the previous
There is
day, according to Hanlin.
this common
"If you look at my planner
misconception that
you would seriously need a
the teachers and
decoder. I plan, plan, plan.
administration
And we're not talking small
l say "no" before
notes here, we're talking full
the question is
scale novel," Hanlin said.
asked, when
Besides planning events and
really, they
projects, Hanlin creates new
play a huge
ideas and recruits volunteers.
part in many
"Many ideas that are
brought to our attention
Samantha Hanlin, ASB president, helps plan the next our large
event for Invisible Children. She must balance her events," Hanlin
•originate in the hallways
social and academic goals along with ASB projects said. She tries
or break rooms; it's just
throughout the entire year. Photo by Zack Mueller to make sure
ASB's job to put them into
students know
motion, and my job to see
However,
ASB
doesn't
do
that the office
it through," Hanlin said.
it all alone. They team up
door is a gateway rather than
Because so many projects and
with Leadership classes, class a dead end.
events go on at the same time councils, administration,
Though Hanlin works
it can be hard to remember
volunteer individuals such as
everything. Hanlin claims she Kristy Wilkinson, Austin Volk hard at being a leader in the
community, she does other
has a memory like an "etch-
and Conner Olsen, seniors,
things with her time as well.
a-sketch" and is terrible at
and others depending on
When she is not at school
remembering things.
what project is in the work.
or working on ASB related
"1 do my best to do all
"Students would be
topics, she is planning social
surprised how different
the items on my lists and
Staff Reporter
4
events and hanging out.
"You know the usual;
life stuff and just goofing
around. Every teenager's
dream," Hanlin said. She
admits she does many school
related activities like painting
flyers and posters, outside of
school.
The busiest time of the
school year for ASB is the
start and the end, which
includes Homecoming,
which is busy, but May Day
was even busier.
"It takes an incredible
amount of preparation
and down-to-the-wire
detailed planning. It can
get overwhelming realizing
that you need to remember
everything from how the
assembly runs to how the
halftime show is going to
get through the back gate,"
Hanlin said.
If being extremely busy is
the downside, all the people
and interaction is definitely
the upside. Communicating
with various people takes
up many hours of Hanlin's
life. She estimated about
32-55 hours spent a week on
president related activities.
"My favorite part about
ASB is talking to people.
Before, I didn't have an
excuse to walk up to random
people and try to get to
know them but now I have
a bulletproof reason; I'm
on ASB, and it's all about
the networking," Hanlin
said. She loves being able to
see, and be a part of, all the
success the projects bring;
though not all of them are
perfect. Some of the events
and plans fail or as Hanlin
likes to say, "They'll do better
next year".
Help from the student
body and suggestions are
always appreciated. ASB,
student councils, and
Leadership classes work to
make things run the way they
do. Students who complain
and offer no solutions are
very frustrating according to
Hanlin.
"It's really important to
hear both the positive and
the negative, but too often
the negative is just a person
trying to be a downer,"
Hanlin said.
There is a suggestion
locker (located by the
E-porch, locker 1294) that is
open for anyone to contribute
ideas and solutions to
problems that will improve
the student body.
"I really advise people
to take advantage of their
choice. It's basically the Help
Us, Help You method, and
trust me, it really works,"
Hanlin said.
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