Medical Lake High’s Sofia Novochekhova receives recognition in flute, for academics

Sofia Novochekhova migrated with her family from Russia when she was 5 years old. She is about to graduate from Medical Lake High School as an accomplished student musician, one of the best in the Spokane region.

Among her most recent achievements, Novochekhova, 18, was selected to perform a flute solo during a May 20 concert of the Spokane Youth Symphony Orchestra at the Fox Theater. She was just one of three soloists selected for the concert during a competition earlier this year at Whitworth University, and the first in the high school’s history.

School staff said Novochekhova has thrived since arriving in Medical Lake. She has maintained a 3.8 GPA under what they describe as a rigorous class load.

She said she was challenged and enjoyed her classes in biology, government and politics because they taught her to appreciate and understand how people and cultures are interconnected.

“My perspective on the world has changed a lot,” she said, crediting her teachers for bringing her to a wider understanding.

“Medical Lake High School is so outstanding,” she said, pointing to its smaller family feel as one of its strengths. “I love the teachers so much. It has been academically challenging.”

She plans to major in music, looking at three programs: University of North Texas, Whitworth University and Central Washington University.

Her longer goal is to become a music teacher. “My first choice is the university level, but I could teach in middle school or elementary school,” she said.

Novochekhova said she started playing flute when she was 11 and fell in love with the instrument and its lilting, uplifting feel.

For the May 20 performance at the Fox, Novochekhova chose the “Hungarian Pastoral Fantasy,” a 12-minute piece by Albert Franz Doppler that shows off the beauty of the instrument.

Her musical skill reaches beyond flute, however. She also plays tenor sax in the high school jazz band and is a vocalist.

She received consistent superior ratings in competitions.

Novochekhova came to the U.S. from Novosibirsk, the third largest city in Russia. It’s located in southern Siberia.

Her parents are Peter Novochekhov and Inna Novochekhova. She has a brother and a sister.

The family chose Medical Lake because they had cousins already living here, she said.

Growing up, her parents wanted to integrate into the community. So, for example, they chose American-based churches instead of the local Russian churches, she said.

In addition to her academics and music, Novochekhova has been involved in community service through the high school Key Club and National Honor Society.

One of the volunteer events involved helping at dances with Lakeland Village residents.

“She is a very inspirational young lady,” said Craig Johnson, her band director. He described her as “amazing, not only with her performances but how she treats other people and so often puts them above herself. She is just a neat kid.”

In a recommendation letter for a scholarship, Johnson wrote: “When Sofia is present, she transforms the place into a brighter, livelier environment. Sofia loves helping people and has a special way of bringing out the best in people. I have the utmost confidence that she will make a positive difference in this world as she pursues her college degree and career.”

Novochekhova said, “I have made a lot of great friends.”