>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Vocalists and instrumentalists from Union and La Grande high schools hit high notes at the recent Oregon Music Educators Association District 6 competition.

La Grande High School’s wind ensemble and Union High School’s choir both placed first in their divisions to qualify for the Oregon School Activities Association’s state championships in May.

Union High School’s choir placed first in the 1A-2A division and LHS placed first in the 4A division. The 1A-2A classification is for schools with up to 235 students and the 4A classification is for schools with 401 to 850 students.

The LHS a cappella choir also turned in a stalwart performance, placing second to Baker High School. The choir is now in contention for a berth at the OSAA state championships. A recording of its performance at the district competition will be placed in a tape pool. Recordings from other class 4A choirs who had high finishes at district competitions but did not earn automatic berths will be evaluated by out-of-state judges. Choirs submitting tapes judged to be among the best will be awarded berths at the OSAA state championships.

The OSAA state choir championships will be May 1-2 at George Fox College. Class 2A schools compete May 1 and class 4A schools will be judged May 2. The OSAA state band competition for 4A schools will be conducted May 7 in Corvallis at Oregon State University’s LaSells Stewart Center.

David Opperman, Union High School choir director, was very pleased with his choir’s performance. He was particularly pleased with his choir’s technique and musicality. Technique is a choir’s rhythm and pitch and musicality refers to phrasing and expression.

The UHS choir performed six numbers including “People Get Ready’’ by Curtis Mayfield and Kirby Shaw; and “Every time I Feel the Spirit,’’ by William Dawson.

Opperman said adults who played a key role in preparing and assisting the UHS choir include pianist Ruth Edvalson of Union and Tasha Schacher, a student teacher from EOU.

At state Opperman expects to face stiff competition from schools such as Portland Christian and Columbia Christian, perennial powers at the class 2A level.

La Grande High School band director Jim Howell was impressed with the consistency displayed by his wind ensemble.

“I was very pleased. It was a good day,’’ Howell said.

The LHS band director said that achieving consistency had been a challenge for the group because it has so many younger players.

LHS is the defending state 4A band champion. The Tigers also won state in 2000 and have many other top three finishes in the past eight years, all under the leadership of Howell.

The LHS a cappella choir performed five songs at district including “Dashing Away With a Smoothing Iron’’ and “The Moon is Distant From the Sea.’’

“I was extremely happy with our performance,’’ said first-year LHS choir director Kevin Durfee.

He said the group displayed poise and had “a good blend.’’

LHS also has a strong choir tradition. La Grande’s a cappella choir placed third at state in 2007, second in 2006, third in 2005 and 2004 and finished first at state in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

At this year’s district competition LHS was in strong company, placing second to Baker, winner of the 2007 class 4A title.