BVW had 39 students participate in the KSHSAA Regional Solo & Ensemble Festival on Saturday, April 8th. Every student who performed worked hard and performed well. We had many students receive a I (Superior) rating at this festival:

Kelly Bushouse - flute solo
Mateo Aleman - trombone solo
Ryan Barrett - tuba solo
Elizabeth Davidson - flute solo
Ashley Buhler - flute solo
Amu Nuney - flute solo
Kelsey Norkey - trombone solo
Karl Miller - trombone solo
Mary Orzechowski - flute solo
Evelyn Cheung - flute and piccolo solos
Threads Percussion Quartet (Mark Bowersock, Robert Viazzoli, Daniel Sizoo, Harrison Jones)
Anna Brabston - percussion solo
Jake Seager - trumpet solo
Tess Ryan - flute solo
Brady Gell - trombone solo
Cameron Harris - bari sax solo
Alzex Jashinski - alto sax solo
Cece Greve - clarinet solo
Mark Bowersock - marimba solo
Nick Pfeiff - trumpet solo
Nathan Pollock - tuba solo

This Superior rating qualifies these students to participate in the KSHSAA State Solo & Ensemble Festival at the end of the month. Congratulations to these and all of the students who participated!

 onfter winning the high school big band division of last year's KU Jazz Festival, BVW Jazz I returned to the festival this year to defend their title. They were successful and brought home the trophy for the second year in a row! They again got to play at the Friday evening concert as a featured ensemble, opening for the nationally-recognized KU Jazz I and the All-Star Big Band. 

Jazz II, in their first year, also attended the festival and received a Superior rating and several soloist awards. Congrats to both jazz ensembles in their success at these festivals!

Both jazz bands and the after-school Lab Jazz big bands have had a big year so far. Jazz I has performed with KU Jazz I at the Gem Theater in the historic 18th & Vine district in December. KU Jazz I is under the direction of Dan Gailey and featured saxophonist and KU professor Matt Otto, who also performed with BVW Jazz I and combos.

​BVW also recently hosted UMKC's Conservatory Jazz Band, under the direction of Dan Thomas, in a combined concert at BVW on February 21st. Jazz II and the Lab Jazz big bands (under the direction of student directors from Jazz I) also held a very successful concert on February 28th. See below for pictures from the KU Jazz Festival and recent concerts!

The BVW Band program held its annual Sound Byte Recruitment Concert on January 17th. This concert event featured performances from the LKMS and PRMS 8th grade bands, as well as side-by-side performances with those groups and the BVW Symphonic Band and Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

Afterwards, students and parents got to hear from our students and directors about the band program at BVW. All of the student materials were created by our Student Recruitment Committee, who have worked very hard for the last month to put this event together. Check out the videos below, as well as the Information Packet handed out for more info! 
Videos created by the Recruitment Committee/Executive Board with the generous help of Anna Ferguson

Students who made the NEKMEA District band were eligible to audition for the KMEA State Honor Groups. We had 13 students make these honor groups, and five of them won their audition-the most of any school in the state of Kansas! They'll perform with these groups at the 2017 KMEA In-Serivce Workshop in Wichita at the end of February. Congratulations to these students!

Jazz Band
Michael Svoren - Alto Sax - won his audition!
Cameron Harris - Bari Sax - won his audition!

Orchestra
Branden Kohnle - Horn

Band
Amu Nuney - Flute - won her audition!
Kelly Bushouse - Flute
Evelyn Cheung - Flute
David Qi - Clarinet
Ethan Bales - Clarinet
Kyle Miller - Bass Clarinet
Alex Jashinski - Alto Sax - won his audition!
Alex Renaut - Trumpet
Nick Pfeiff - Trumpet
Deacon Ridley - Euphonium - won his audition!

Over the weekend, we had many students audition for and make the NEKMEA District Honor Band and Jazz Band. All students who auditioned worked very hard on the music. 27 students earned a spot or an alternate position in these groups - a school record! Congratulations to these students!

Concert Band
Kelly Bushouse - flute (1st chair!)
Amu Nuney - flute
Evelyn Cheung - flute
Elizabeth Davidson - flute
David Qi - clarinet
Chelsea Park - clarinet
Jean Li - clarinet
Cece Greve - clarinet
Ethan Bales - clarinet
Samanta Carreno - clarinet alternate
Kyle Miller - bass clarinet
Michael Svoren - alto sax (1st chair!)
Alex Jashinski - alto sax
Cameron Harris - bari sax
Alex Renaut - trumpet
Nick Pfeiff - trumpet
Branden Kohnle - horn
Brady Gell - trombone
Izaya Ogden - trombone alternate
Deacon Ridley - euphonium
Nathan Pollock - tuba

Jazz Band
Michael Svoren - alto sax (1st chair!)
Alex Jashinski - tenor sax alternate
Cameron Harris - bari sax
Deacon Ridley - trombone
Dante DeCicco - guitar alternate
Griffin Stout - bass alternate

These students will perform at the NEKMEA Mini-Convention on December 3rd, and will then be eligible to audition for the KMEA State Honor groups in January. Congratulations!