This year, the Oregon State competition for band and orchestra welcomes incoming solo and ensemble festival performers. They worked tirelessly throughout the season and showed their dedication and perseverance to make it to the top level.
Ten students will participate in the May State competition representing Wilsonville High School. The competition will showcase all versions of unique instruments attached to different performers that hold different talents they will bring to the competition.
The 2025 OSAA Oregon State Competition is an annual competition for high school soloists and ensembles across Oregon. They qualify through district competitions, and the event demonstrates top-performing bands and orchestras in various classifications based on school size. Music education and its benefits are important because it’s a lifetime experience that captures the intellectual, emotional, social, and personal developments of students. (That helps students overcome fears and build resilience.)
Solo state performances feature a single student from a high school who plays an instrument for a particular piece of music. For example, a student may play a trombone to “Blue Bells” for their presented piece. Ensemble events feature two or more students playing their instruments together. Additionally, both solo and ensemble performances are played in front of a judge that critiques the student’s musical adaptation.
There is great significance in being a solo or ensemble performance qualifier for state because it showcases their skill and dedication by performing music selected from a collegiate-level repertoire. The competition is an opportunity for students to challenge themselves, maintain composure, learn from their mistakes, and try new techniques that will help them grow as musicians. The students at Wilsonville High School demonstrated high levels of commitment to qualify for state, so there’s no doubt that they won’t give it their best shot.
Oboe player Aasha Patel got first place as a solo performer and shares, “As always, Mr. Davies has been my biggest supporter, helping me source accompanists, original copies of music, and most importantly, building my confidence in my playing capabilities. In terms of technique, my instructor Julia Gjebic helped me expand my skill set and take the concerto I performed to the next level. Playing what’s on the page is completely different from getting into the composer’s head and overlaying your interpretation.”
The most important part of being a performer at State is the preparation beforehand. Students partake in many practice rehearsals that include their daily practice routines and rehearsals with their ensembles, as well as choosing a repertoire (a collection of music pieces played by an individual musician or ensemble, composed for a particular instrument) that will appeal to their specific talents and personal significance. In addition, overcoming nerves can be a major area of growth for some performers before standing in front of a crowd; this could include mental preparation techniques, performances, or support from peers.
The many talents of Wilsonville High School’s orchestra and band will be displayed in May, at State. They will be judged based on musicality, technique, tone quality, intonation, interpretation, and overall performance. Furthermore, the schools with receive ratings, and both the top solos and ensembles will be recognized for outstanding performances.
