HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – West Ottawa’s music program had another excellent showing at the Michigan Music Conference this past weekend in Grand Rapids, with its Select Women’s Ensemble, Jazz I Saxophone Section and three individual students all being selected to perform.
The Michigan Music Conference is an annual three- day event featuring professional development for music teachers as well as performances by the top school music ensembles in the state. The West Ottawa Select Women’s Ensemble was a featured performer during the Michigan School Vocal Music Association Choral Hour. Their performance featured a wide variety of challenging repertoire that was well received.
Senior Benjamin Hahn performed as the First Chair Trombonist with the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association’s High School All-State Band. The members of the All-State Bands and Orchestras were selected by blind audition from a pool of over 1,700 applicants. Eighth grade clarinetists Mason Ouzts and Tyler Bush performed in the Middle School All-State Band as well.
The West Ottawa High School Jazz I Saxophone Section was also featured in a clinic put on by PhD candidate Jordan VanHemert, a former student teacher at West Ottawa High School. The clinic session was titled, “Kings of Swing: Building Your Best Jazz Saxophone Section”. The Jazz I Saxophones served as the demonstration group for this session and received rave reviews for their performance.
The West Ottawa Music Program has become a fixture at the Michigan Music Conference in recent years.
