Kirkland’s Kamiakin Middle School band sets record with selections to 2017 Junior All-State Band

February 2, 2017 1:30 am
Kamiakin Middle School has 18 students selected to the 2017 Junior All-State Band, including: Dhruv Ashok, french horn; Danny Roeder, trombone; Amelia Hawkins, flute; Caleb Luca, trumpet; Fiona McDaniel, flute; Sagnik Sinha, clarinet; Karen Lu, flute; Liam Gibbs, percussion; Sebastian Kolde, oboe; Kimaya Wijeratna, flute; Andrew Ellis, trombone; Amy Courage, clarinet; Natalie Sauze, trumpet; Ella Geels, bassoon; Kaylei Virtue, clarinet; Madison Nguyen, saxophone; Aditi Saraf, clarinet; Rachel Gerhardt, trombone. Four of these remarkable musicians were accepted for two consecutive years: Wijeratna, Ellis, Kolde, and Gerhardt. Contributed photo
Kamiakin Middle School has 18 students selected to the 2017 Junior All-State Band, including: Dhruv Ashok, french horn; Danny Roeder, trombone; Amelia Hawkins, flute; Caleb Luca, trumpet; Fiona McDaniel, flute; Sagnik Sinha, clarinet; Karen Lu, flute; Liam Gibbs, percussion; Sebastian Kolde, oboe; Kimaya Wijeratna, flute; Andrew Ellis, trombone; Amy Courage, clarinet; Natalie Sauze, trumpet; Ella Geels, bassoon; Kaylei Virtue, clarinet; Madison Nguyen, saxophone; Aditi Saraf, clarinet; Rachel Gerhardt, trombone. Four of these remarkable musicians were accepted for two consecutive years: Wijeratna, Ellis, Kolde, and Gerhardt. Contributed photo

Kamiakin Middle School’s music department set a new school record this year by having 18 musicians accepted into the 2017 Junior All-State Band.

In 2005, the Washington Music Educators Association began the task of auditioning and screening all of the state’s top student instrumentalists and vocalists to form honor groups recognizing musical excellence. The school’s music department has had 111 students accepted into state-level honor groups since that time.

“Kamiakin’s contribution has always been a source of school pride but this year’s number of talented members soars above past records,” said Kamiakin’s music program director Ward Brannman. “An additional school record was set by having five of the 18 make it as 7th graders; a full year before most succeed.”

The group will join others from across the state in Bellevue on Feb. 18 to rehearse and perform for a concert that evening in conjunction with the WMEA’s state conference.