Sehome High School claimed third at the 3A girls' basketball state tournament in Tacoma on March 4. The team beat Anacortes with a close 48-47 score for third place. This was their fist win against the district champions in four tries this season.

Mark Schlichting Named Orchestra Teacher of the Year

Bellingham High School's orchestra teacher Mark Schlichting received two lifetime achievement awards on March 3-4. Schlichting was named Washington State's 2006 Orchestra Teacher of the Year.  He also was inducted into the Washington Music Educators Association's (WMEA) Hall of Fame at its State Convention. The association chooses 10 state recipients every two years.

Music Students Qualify for State Performance

Hundreds of Bellingham, Squalicum and Sehome high school musicians competed at the annual San Juan Music Educators Association (SJMEA) Solo and Ensemble Festival held at Bellingham High School on Jan. 28. Band, choral and orchestra recognitions include:

Bellingham student qualifiers are senior Alex Keyes, category winner of string bass solo;  junior Lydia Wassan, category winner of soprano vocal solo; sophomore Colin Wheatley, category winner of viola solo. Alternates include junior Megan Butcher first in mezzo-soprano solo; junior, Shannon McGuiness, first for soprano vocal solo; junior Kjel Funston, first for french horn; junior John Ethier, first for alto/sop. sax solo; junior Laura Henninger, second for viola solo; sophomore Arwen Tag, first for tenor/baritone sax solo; freshman Hannah Neimier, first for soprano vocal solo.

The BHS "B Phat" Clarinets, Showstoppers and the Chamber Ensemble all qualified for state performance. Alternates include Bellingham Percussion 2, first for percussion ensemble-large; Guys Group, first for men's vocal ensembles-large; Fraction of Shtops, first for mixed vocal ensembles; and The Trebles, second for women's vocal ensembles-large.

Squalicum student qualifiers are senior Albert Diaz, category winner of guitar solo; senior Scott Macpherson, category winner of alto/sop. sax solo; senior, Andrew Sholin category winner of euphonium solo; senior Aaron Ostrom, category winner of tenor/baritone sax solo; junior Hadassah McGill, category winner of piano solo. Alternates include senior Sara Jerns, second for oboe solo; junior Marvin Dumas, first for mallets solo; junior Melissa Challender, first for violin solo; and freshman  Samuel Kaas, second for bassoon solo.

Squalicum Percussion 1, category winner of percussion ensemble-large, and Squalicum Duet 1, category winner of women's vocal ensemble-small,  also qualified for state performance. Alternates include Squalicum Percussion 2, second for large percussion ensemble; Storm Singers 2, first for mixed vocal ensembles; Squalicum String Quartet, first for small string ensembles; Legendary, first for large brass ensemble; The Royal Flush, second for large brass ensemble; SQHS Women's Large Ensemble, first for women's large vocal ensemble; Squalicum Duet 3, first for women's small vocal ensemble and Squalicum Duet, second for women's small vocal ensemble.

Sehome student qualifiers are junior Chloe Binderup, category winner of cello solo and sophomore Whitney Wynn, category winner of violin solo. Alternates include senior Abby Frankenfeld, first for cello solo; junior Kelly Staves, second for flute solo; sophomore Carrie Sloane, second for cello solo; sophomore Karen Frankenfeld, second for violin solo; freshman Trent Eason, first for bassoon solo; and freshman Caleb Savage, first for trumpet solo.

The Sehome Quartet, category winner of mixed vocal ensembles and Sehome Quarteto,  category winner of small string ensembles also qualified for state performance. Alternates include Besos Botas, first for large string ensemble, and Sehome Chamber, second for large string ensemble.

The Squalicum Jazz Band Takes Second at the Viking Jazz Festival

Squalicum placed second out of the 12 bands that competed in the combined 3A/4A category at the Viking Jazz Festival on Feb. 3. Senior Albert Diaz was awarded an outstanding soloist award for bass. Other recognized soloists include seniors Scott Macpherson, Sarah Jerns, Ryan Morrill, Aaron Ostrom and Aaron Perrell.
 
Future endeavors for the band include collaboration on KPLU's "School of Jazz" CD with Bellingham resident Dave Keim, who plays with the current Basie band and has played with Stan Kenton. The CD release party is April 24 at Benaroya Hall where the band will perform along with 10 other high schools.