Creating powerful music, receiving vital feedback from prominent composers and educators and advancing a school program further along on its journey are key components to marking success, according to Mercer Island High School (MIHS) wind ensemble directors.
Notching a first-place award on the state level while displaying a group’s solid musicianship and artistry gives students an additional boost and shows that their diligence has paid off and impacted contest judges, the directors added.
The 55-member MIHS wind ensemble recently received the honor in The Foundation for Music Education’s Mark of Excellence/National Wind Band Honors Project. It is the first time the program has won this award, which spotlights the 2021-22 ensemble that is co-directed by Parker Bixby, Kyle Thompson and Jacob Krieger.
Bixby and Krieger submitted live recordings of the ensemble’s performances of “Oh Henry” by Ryan Nowlin, “Prelude Op.34” by Dmitri Shostakovich and “Selections from Spirited Away” by Joe Hisaishi into the national contest. The recordings — which were reviewed and ranked by the adjudicators — were culled from festivals at MIHS and Central Washington University last spring.
“It is always exciting to be recognized by your peers and by other artists for high-quality, creative work. It’s great to tell my students that they are doing as good work as anybody in the state,” said Bixby, who reiterated that having high-caliber peers review the performances — and hearing their audio feedback — is thrilling, as well. “It’s a really good teaching tool. If it was a football team, it would be like listening to an NFL coach break down your football team’s film.”
Junior alto saxophonist Moa Valentin played on the winning recordings and said that she enjoys bonding with her fellow musicians in the MIHS program. It’s an uplifting experience when everyone’s focused and locked in on the music as it soars throughout the concert hall.
“It is a super fun environment. I love wind ensemble because we’re all a big family and we love to work together. It’s like we are working hard for each moment and we’re all so engaged, every single one of us, that we can create such cool music,” said Valentin, who has been involved with band since fifth grade and is in her second year as part of the wind ensemble.
Valentin added that they thrive on receiving feedback because it allows the ensemble to grow, learn and evolve.
First-year wind ensemble member Sol Park, a junior, said that when he’s playing clarinet, he’s part of a hard-working team that’s always striving for improvement.
Park, who stepped into the band realm in fifth grade, echoed Valentin’s sentiment about the familial atmosphere residing within the wind ensemble.
“I feel like it’s just a great place to be in overall. All the teachers are super nice and all the kids. We all try to work hard and try and talk with each other and have fun,” Park said.
The MIHS bands will next perform at 7 p.m. on Dec. 7 in the school’s performing arts center.
