Washington High School band and vocal students are performing virtually for this year’s Iowa High School Music Association Solo-Small Ensemble Festival.

Instead of traveling to perform at a school the Washington and other Class 3A participants must submit video recordings by this Wednesday to be judged by Saturday. Vocal Director Jonathan Runaas is submitting three solos and one sextet performance this year, “With the vocals I actually had more people interested because in the past they’ve had scheduling conflicts and with being able to prerecord obviously the scheduling conflicts were, we can record anytime they’re available. So on the vocal side of things I had several more people than I would have on a normal year.”

Band Director Don Hughes has two soloists performing this year, “For my side I’m actually down. I think what a lot of the kids like to do is actually get out there and perform and hear other people perform. That’s another part of the in-person festival is all of these performances are open to the public, so if you’re hanging around all day waiting to perform you can sit in on other people’s things. You can hear other people that play your instrument and other people that do the same thing you do and get an idea of what’s out there.”

The students’ performances are evaluated by judges who have at least five years of experience as music educators and are given a score ranging from Division I as superior to Division V as poor.

Students Performing:

Vocal Solos:
Bailey Rees
Nolan Watson
Ethan Zieglowsky

Vocal Sextet
Kendra Kucera
Peyton Florke
Pheonix Herman
Mathew Osborn
Keegan Colby
Keaton Murphy

Mikaila Matheson – Flute
Quentin Howard – Trombone