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The Observer • May 1-7, 2014 13
CWU hosts state music contest
sic program in the state, so we have the facility and the number of students to pull this off,” Lane said. “I doubt any of the High school students from all over other universities can do this just because Washington came to Central last week- of the sheer size of it.” end to compete in the Washington Music Lane said the event is a great recruiting Educators Association State Solo and En- opportunity for Central, even though the semble Contest. department does not actively recruit durAbout 2,000 high school students, all ing the weekend. clad in formal attire, crowded around the “We get the very best students on camdesignated performance spaces, listening pus every year, and they get to be in our in to their compebuilding which is tition while trying our main draw,” to contain their We’re the largest un- Lane said. nerves. Some enSam Ormson, dergraduate music program Central sembles took their alumni instruments outside in the state, so we have the and music teacher to get last-minute Mountain View facility and the number of at practice in before High School in students to pull this off ... I Vancouver, said their scheduled 10 minute perfordoubt any of the other uni- having the compemance time. tition at a univerversities can do this. These students sity also benefits the competed in a vastudents. -Mark Lane riety of musical cat“Exposing [stuAssociate Director of Bands egories that ranged dents] to post-high from string quartets school opportunito chamber choirs. ties to make them The competitors were divided by group ‘real,’” Ormson said, gives them “just a size (for ensembles), instrument family for little bit of the day in the life of what it’s bands and gender for choirs (vocal range like to be in college.” for soloists). For Brie McGie, junior music major, The event is not a new occurrence for coming to the competition while she was the university. According to Mark Lane, in high school helped her decide to come associate director of bands, Central has to Central. hosted the event for over 20 years. McGie said she was terrified when she “We’re the largest undergraduate mu- came to compete. She remembered runBY ADAM WILSON
Scene Editor
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COURTNEY LEWIS/OBSERVER
A CAPPELLA Each contest category had about 20 entries each, spread across all regions in Washington State.
ning around in a panic because she wasn’t sure what table to check in at, but the student volunteers made the process easier for her. “Everybody was just so nice about it,” McGie said. McGie volunteered to help with the competition her freshman and sophomore year, and enjoys being around the atmosphere even when it is not required. “People in high school are really good [at music],” McGie said. “They just haven’t had the time to explore yet.”
Over 100 Central students volunteered at the event. According to Central Alumni and Student Coordinator Sarah Martinson, these students put in over 400 volunteer hours. Many of the volunteers are music education majors, and, according to Martinson, participating in the competition gives them experience that will help them in their future careers. “This whole event we’re working with so many students, so many parents [and] so many teachers,” Martinson said.