U.S. PHEP Musicians
These 12 honor band musicians were selected from over 1000 Western International Band Clinic auditions in the fall of 2015. The WIBC Board of Directors selected these top students from various high schools throughout the United States.
AUSTIN ADAMS
Baritone Saxophone
Summit High School (Oregon)
Austin is 16 years old, and is currently an 11th grader at summit high school in Bend, Oregon. Austin has been playing saxophone for 4 years, but he has always had a love for music. Along with music, Austin enjoys ultimate frisbee and camping. He is very excited to be included in the Pacific Honors Ensemble Program in Brisbane, Australia.
ROSIE ALLWRIGHT
Trumpet
Eastlake High School (Washington)
Originally from the UK, Rosie is a junior at Eastlake High School in Sammamish, WA. She started playing the violin at age 5 but discovered her passion for the trumpet at a 6th grade orchestra camp and has never looked back!
Rosie plays principal trumpet in the high school wind ensemble, marching band and jazz band and has also played with the Sammamish Symphony Orchestra, Bellevue Symphony Orchestra plus Junior and Senior all-state groups.
She’s honored and excited to join the PHEP program and looks forward to discovering Australia, broadening her musical experiences, and making new friends.
HAYDEN BAUER
Percussion
Bonney Lake High School (Washington)
Hayden is a talented percussionist from Bonney Lake High School in Bonney Lake, Washington, and has participated in many different orchestras, bands, ensembles, and more. He volunteers at church by playing drums, guitar and bass at weekend services and youth ministries. Hayden is a state performing soloist on timpani and strives to perform with more percussion instruments, such as mallets, snare, and multiple percussion solos. Hayden also plays snare drum for the Columbians Drum and Bugle Corps from Pasco, Washington, and will be touring with them for their 2016 season.
JOHN FERNSTROM
Tenor Sax
Issaquah High School (Washington)
John is 17 years old and a junior at Issaquah High School in Washington. He has been playing saxophone in both wind ensemble and jazz band in school for 6 years. He is greatly looking forward to the PHEP trip, getting to travel to Australia for the first time and learn a lot from the experience.
After high school, he plans to pursue a degree in music, hopefully focusing on music composition.
EMILY GIBBONS
Clarinet
Emerald Ridge H.S. (Washington)
Emily is 16 years old and has been studying clarinet for roughly six years.
Emily attends Emerald Ridge High School, where she is a member of the Symphonic Band, and has participated in the Wester International Band Clinic twice and hopes to continue through high school. She has also attended clarinet workshops at Central Washington University and a band workshop through Western Washington University. She is honored to be a part of the Pacific Honours Ensemble Program and hopes to take away many great experiences.
PARKER LASALA
Alto Sax
Summit High School (Oregon)
Parker Lasala is a junior at Summit High School in Bend, Oregon. He plays the tenor sax for Summit's Wind ensemble and Jazz band under the illustrious Mr. Dan Judd. In addition, Parker plays in a saxophone quartet that just won districts and will compete at the state competition in late April. Outside of music, Parker enjoys hiking and anything on the water, such as kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. Parker is excited, honored, and grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Pacific Honours Ensemble program and will be the first in his family to travel to Australia.
DYLAN LOEW
Alto Sax
Central Valley High School (Washington)
Dylan is 17 years old and a junior at Central Valley High School in Spokane, Washington. He has played Alto Sax for 6 years and currently plays lead alto in the school's Jazz 1 group, as well as, principal Saxophonist in their Wind Ensemble and Marching Band. In adition, he participates in the group's Sax Quartet and plays Bass Clarinet in the school's Symphony Orchestra.
Dylan hopes to pursue a career in musical performance and/or education coming out of college. He's honored and excited to be playing with the Pacific Honours Ensemble Program and hopes to gain invaluable skills from the journey.
MORGAN LOWNEY
Horn
Issaquah High School (Washington)
Morgan is a 17 year old Junior and member of the Wind Ensemble at Issaquah High School. He also attends Bellevue College as part of the Running Start program.
Morgan has been playing the Horn for six years. He was a member of the Washington Junior All-State Band for two years, and named the 2013 Outstanding Brass Player at Pacific Cascade Middle School. He was also a member of the Washington All-State Band for two years, a member of the Washington All-State Wind Ensemble in 2016, and a participant in the Western International Band Clinic the last three years.
In the future, Morgan hopes to study Music and Science at college. He is honored to be a part of the 2016 Pacific Honours Ensemble Program where he expects to learn a lot, make friends, and take away many wonderful experiences.
AUGUST MAY
Clarinet
West Albany High School (Oregon)
August, 16 has played the clarinet for 5 years. He has performed at Oregon All-State, Western International Band Clinic and 2 years for the Youth Symphony in Corvallis, Oregon under the leadership of Andy Nelson. He is currently playing in the West Albany band under the Mr. Welsh's great leadership. He has participated in several band camps in Oregon in the last few years.
ALEX MEDINA
Bari Saxophone
Westview High School (Oregon)
Alex is a junior at Westview high school in Portland Oregon. He plays saxophone and clarinet in his school's jazz band, symphonic band, and wind ensemble. In addition, he's taking AP music theory. Alex also marches saxophone in the Westview Marching band. His love for music makes him want to pursue a career in music and become a band director. He's hoping to go to the University of North Texas to study music education and conducting.
NOAH PLACZEK
Tenor Saxophone
Mead High School (Washington)
Noah is a junior at Mead H. S. in Spokane, Washington. He currently plays tenor sax for Mead’s Wind Ensemble, as well as for the Jazz I ensemble and Mead Sax Quartet. In April, Noah will be making his third trip to the WMEA State Solo and Ensemble competition, where he placed 2nd overall in Washington for the tenor/baritone saxophone division last year. Noah also serves as a Drum Major for the Mead H. S. Marching Band and Color Guard.
Outside of school, Noah has played tenor saxophone for several groups in the Spokane area, including the Spokane Area Jazz Ensemble and the Spokane Area Wind Ensemble. He currently plays with the Master Class Big Band, an ensemble of both veteran and high-school aged musicians. Upon graduation from high school, Noah hopes to pursue his passions through a double-major in either science or mathematics along with classical tenor saxophone performance.
CINDY WONG
Tuba
West Albany High School (Oregon)
Currently 15 years old, Cindy is in the 10th grade at West Albany High School. She has been playing Tuba for a little over 2 years. In her school’s top band, Wind Ensemble, she serves as their Principal Tuba player and as a Trombone Player in West Albany’s Jazz Band I. Also, she is a member of the Corvallis Youth Symphony.
Cindy is looking forward to this exciting opportunity to participate in the Pacific Honours Ensemble program. She knows it will be an inspiring experience to remember.
