Lc Musicians Win Honors At International Fest

More than 100 Lewis and Clark students - 110 to be exact - tickled their keys, plucked their strings and tooted their horns.

Last week, LC’s Instrumental Music Department did all of the above, performing at the Hyack International Music Festival in Vancouver, B.C., and walked away with the gold: trophies for best full orchestra, chamber orchestra and marching band.

“We won the gold - highest honors,” said Larry Jay, director of LC’s instrumental music program.

Twenty-three schools from throughout the United States and Canada came to the competition, which annually serves up a musical buffet featuring chamber orchestras, symphonic bands, jazz bands, marching bands and dulcet choirs.

“There were U.S. groups from as far away as Pennsylvania and California,” Jay said.

LC took first-place awards in the symphonic band and marching band competition, and second place in the jazz band competition.

“We received the Adjudicator’s Award, which places us in the top 5 percent of all school music groups nationally,” Jay said. And LC’s marching band won the Best Music Award and Best Marching Award.

This is the third year that LC has attended the festival.

The festival’s judges also recognized individual musicians.

April Skow, a junior, was honored for her outstanding performance in concert with the chamber orchestra.

“I was surprised,” said the oboe soloist. “I didn’t know they would do something like that.”

For junior Gregg Johnson, violinist, the festival was an opportunity to “perfect our music and see how we measured up. We worked so hard this year. The goal wasn’t to win a bunch of awards, but it was neat to see where it ended up,” Johnson said. “I’d sure love to go next year.”

Jay also credited LC’s orchestra teacher, Kathleen Czoski, with helping the young musicians prepare for the festival. Due to a prior engagement, Czoski was unable to attend the festival. Principal Michael Howson said the trophies soon will fill the school’s main showcase.

“We’re still in shock,” Jay said.

Roosevelt students donate trees

Three hundred students from Roosevelt Elementary School took a break from afternoon classes last Friday to plant three black alder trees near the duck pond in Manito Park.

Students were moved to raise money for the project after witnessing the park’s devastation from November’s ice storm, said Roosevelt’s principal, Janis Rust.

Roosevelt students sponsored a series of fund-raisers during the school year.

Jim Flott, Spokane Parks and Recreation Department’s urban forester, shared planting techniques and tree care with students.

Concert planned tonight at Ferris

Ferris High School will present an instrumental and choral concert at 7:30 tonight in the school auditorium. The concert choir and band, the wind and percussion ensemble and the symphonic choir will perform.

Individual student music awards will also be presented at the concert.

For more information, contact Ferris music director Paul Brueggemeier at 353-3257.

Bicycle rodeo scheduled

Spokane-area elementary school students can test their bicycling skills at the annual Hamblen Bicycle Rodeo on Saturday. The event will be at Hamblen Elementary School, 2121 E. Thurston, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The bicycle rodeo is free. Children can get their bikes checked and tuned and receive safety training.

There will be a series of bicycle skill stations for child riders to test and hone their turning, speed, control and safety skills.

The Spokane Police Department’s Bicycle Patrol also will be present.

The rodeo is sponsored by the Hamblen Parent Teacher Group and Cub Scout Pack 345.

Wilson teacher honored

Jan Cady, kindergarten teacher at Wilson Elementary School, was awarded a fourth-quarter Distinguished Teacher Award.

Cady has been a teacher at Wilson for eight years. Altogether she’s been teaching for 18 years.

“I really feel this is a place where I can make a difference, one child at a time,” Cady said.

“I have known that and felt that because I had a wonderful teacher. Her name is Lucy Easton.

“No matter what I did, she always made me feel and know that I was an OK person. I carried that with me. I want my students to know that I believe in them.”

Cady has enhanced 1-on-1 learning experiences for her kindergartners by pairing them with third- and fifth-grade students for story reading and other activities.

Wilson Principal Janet Gores said, “Jan Cady is a thoughtful, caring kindergarten teacher who creates a rich, nurturing, learning environment for students.”

, DataTimes