All State offers place for dedicated musicians to meet
A lison F ieldhouse _____________
"Just like any sport, every
high school has a band and
choir, and many have an
orchestra," Kevin Egan, Band
and Orchestra Director, said.
"To be selected as a member
of the All State group means
you are among the best
players in all of Oregon. It
takes discipline, hard work
and perseverance to reach
the level of performance
to be in the upper echelon
of musicians. It is akin to
making an all league team
for sports."
Troy Cornelius, Tabitha
Gholi, Samantha Ing,
Georgia Muggli and Alyssa
Walhood, seniors and Zoe
Shroy, junior, were chosen
for Orchestra. In the Band
were Jeffrey Richardson and
Christiana Smith, seniors,
Oregon Music Educators
Association, is held in
Eugene every year.
"We auditioned, and were
notified if we made it into
the band, choir or orchestra,"
Muggli said. "It's a pretty
into the ensemble, they
spent the weekend learning
from and working with
other musicians, as well
as a conductor, to create
and perform music. The
ensembles practiced select
were chosen from schools
throughout the state,
providing a chance to meet
new people and to leam
from them.
"The best part was getting
to meet the seven other
bassists in my section,"
Muggli said. "They were
from all over the state, and
it was so fun getting to see
what they could do with the
music."
The Orchestra ensemble
performed pieces chosen
by Neal Stulberg, Orchestra
Director. The three pieces
selected were "Academic
Overture" by Brahms, "Two
Elegiac Melodies" by Grieg
and "Les Préludes" by Liszt.
Different pieces were chosen
for the different ensembles.
"I really enjoyed the
pieces we performed because
Nesbit, Jenna Tatiyatrairong
they challenged me in a good
way," Ing said.
and Michelle Virgin, juniors.
Students that made the
choir ensemble were Abigail
Chadwick, freshman, and
Oliver Muggli, sophomore.
The lone Jazz Band selection
was Joonas Lemetyinen,
junior.
For All State, an honor
ensemble for band, choir and
orchestra, the competition is
making it in to participate.
All State, presented by the
All State was a chance
for students who made the
cut to improve their abilities
as musicians. They could
meet other students just as
dedicated to their music and
learn valuable skills to apply
to their futures as musicians.
"I learned so much about
preparing music on my own
to bring to a large ensemble
without a lot of ensemble
rehearsal time," Muggli said.
Caroline Attanasio, Kristin
Photo by Rachael Woolley
The WLHS Orchestra rehearses for upcoming performances under
the direction of Kevin Egan, Band and Orchestra Director. Members
of the Orchestra, Band and Choir participated in All State, an honor
ensemble for bands, choirs and orchestras.
selective process designed to
highlight Oregon's top high
school musicians."
Once students made it
pieces until Sunday when
they performed for the rest
of the musicians as well
as other guests. Musicians
Ten seniors attempt to outwit, outplay, outlast in pursuit of iPad
D anny M c G arry
Ten seniors. One week.
One school. One iPad. One
winner.
This may sound like a
television show but it's
actually Senior Survivor,
a competition that took
place the week of Feb. 7 at
WLHS. Ten seniors were
locked in the school for one
week. They had to complete
challenges that not only
tested their physical prowess,
but also their mental acuity.
In the end, only one senior
remained. The winner's name
will be revealed today at the
assembly.
The idea developed as a
response to cut school days,
according to Butch Self,
leadership adviser.
"This was to take the place
of Rejuvenation Week," Self
said.
During the competition
they had a designated study
time so they could focus
on their studies while still
competing. They went to
school and attended all of
their daily classes but after
school, they participated in
Survivor.
"I hope that school spirit
will come out of this. It's
a chance for the student
body to relax and enjoy the
experience," Self said. "There
has been a buzz about it
around the student body."
They held a tribal council
each night that in resulted in
two people, one from each
team, being voted off the
island. It tried to reproduce
the real TV show as closely
as possible given the school
surrounding.
"We want it to be like
the regular TV show, where
students root for people,"
Drake Edwards, senior ASB
video director, said. "We're
•hoping it can be a recurring
theme and create a tradition."
Contestants were selected
based on what they brought
to the table in certain
challenges. Thirty people
auditioned to compete and
only 10 were selected.
"Originally, we were going
to do eight but we just had to
choose 10," Edwards said.
Since this is the first
time they're doing this,
they're trying to keep this as
secretive as possible. They
want to maintain the element
of surprise.
"We wanted someone who
wanted it, and not someone
who by the third day, wanted
out," Edwards said.
continued on page 6
Downs named principal of Wilsonville High School for 2011-2012 school year
Aaron Downs, assistant
principal, w as recently
chosen to replace retiring
principal Andy Som m er at
W ilsonville H igh School.
After going through
a process that involved
panel interview s
w ith staff, students,
adm inistration and
parents, Downs was
selected from a group
of several qualified
candidates.
Downs, class of 1992,
began his career at W LHS
as a teacher, eventually
becom ing a Teacher on
Special Assignm ent, coach
and later an assistant
principal. M ore information
on this recent hire will he
featured in the M arch issue o f
Amplifier.
"This is a reality that classical
musicians face if they get
jobs subbing for players in
the symphony. It requires a
lot of dedication."
Three weeks after
All State, members of
band, orchestra and choir
competed in the Three Rivers
League Solo Contest held
at Clackamas High School.
There were a total of six
league champions: seniors
Troy Cornelius, bassoon,
Rachel Metzler, flute,
Georgia Muggli, string bass
and Alyssa Walhood, French
horn and juniors Joonas
Lemetyinen, trombone and
Keven Kraus, baritone.
Writing Fest
provides outlet
for creative
expression
C harue C raft ______________
This Valentine's week is a
time is not only a time to cel
ebrate your love for friends
and family, but also your
love for creative writing!
Andy West, English teacher,
and the English 12 staff are
hosting the second annual
Winter Writing Festival, a
week-long series of events
Feb. 15-18.
"Our goal is to make (the
event) relevant to English
class, but we are also hoping
to draw interest from outside
of English," West said.
The series will include
writing prompt activities
Tuesday and Thursday, and
a panel of presenters. Camile
Cettina is a professional
theater director and actress,
she recently directed The
Unraveling, which won criti
cal acclaim in Great Britain.
Carri Minns is a local writer
of cooking/life stories who
is a presenter for AM North
west's cooking segments.
Other presenters have
not yet been confirmed, but
Mark Twain is a for sure.
There is also an open mic day
on Friday in which anyone's
writing, from any context
can be shared.
continued on page 15