Although the campus will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year, Kamiakin just completed its first year as a sixth-eighth middle school and the band program has never been busier.

In addition to their regular evening concerts, the bands could be found performing at Seattle Center’s EMP Sky Church and Winterfest. They went on to entertain in our Capitol’s Rotunda, George Fox University, the Kirkland Kiwanis Club, the Women’s University Club, and had band members participate in three different pit orchestras.

Carrying the bands through dozens of performances were the outstanding musicians who worked hard to make every performance special.

This year’s quarterly certificates went to: Davin Schaible, oboe; Rhys Thomas, saxophone; Matthew Maffeo, french horn; Saahiti Potluri, clarinet; Maddie Thomas, clarinet; Annika Hansson, saxophone; Skye Lor, bass clarinet; Natan Tataran, trumpet; Judy Vue, saxophone; Michael Gengo, tuba; Grace Fleming, flute; Katie Roetcisoender, clarinet; Shaina Ellis, saxophone; Wesley Crowe, trombone; Adrian Goodwin, trombone; Jared Rackley, trumpet.

“Musician of the Year” went to sixth-grader DJ Ounkeo, french horn; seventh-grader Crystal Canales, flute; eighth-graders, Kendall Clement, french horn and Maverick Millican, drums.

The band’s highest honor, “The Director’s Award” went to Wesley Crowe, trombone and Samantha Haong, clarinet.

Each year, a deserving sixth-grade band member is chosen to receive the “Peter Riffe Memorial Scholarship” in tribute to band member Peter Riffe who died in a car accident in 1999. This year’s award was presented to Davin Schaible, oboe.

The bands also had the following members accepted to Washington State’s Jr. All-State Band: Adrian Goodwin, trombone; Katie Roetcisoender, clarinet; Wesley Crowe, trombone; Samantha Haong, clarinet; Claire Bechtel, flute/piccolo; Samie Hayward, clarinet; Eduard Luca, trumpet.