The Young Musicians of Mason County Central have had another great year, despite the challenges of having to compete virtually due to the pandemic.
According to MCC band manager Tom Thomas, the high school jazz band once again scored a perfect 1 straight at the virtual State Jazz Festival.
Two players – Brandon Dunn and Wesley Stream – were nominated as honorable mentions for the All-State Band. There was no physical All-State group, so all of the recipients were honorable mentions, according to Thomas.
Dunn is an MCC 2021 graduate and plays tenor saxophone. Stream, a junior, plays drums.
Dunn also received the John Philip Sousa Award and Stream received the Patrick S. Gilmore Band Award.
Additionally, Ryland Gigante, another 2021 graduate, received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award.
However, it’s not just high school students who have excelled this year.
Seventh-grader Lucy O’Hara was one of only 10 middle school girls in the state to receive an Outstanding Soloist citation at the solo and ensemble festival, which was also held virtually.
O’Hara is a freshman trumpeter, and Thomas said the quote is “just an amazing achievement for this young lady.”
