Symphonic Strings and Wind Ensemble are MHC Champs

Posted May 19, 2023

By Katie Liang

Features Editor

The Symphonic String Orchestra placed third in the OSAA 2023 State Orchestra Championships and along with the Wind Ensemble were the 2023 Mount Hood Conference Champions. 

The MHC competition for band, orchestra, and full symphony was held at the Howard F. Horner Performing Arts Center on April 12-13. The participating high schools were those in the 6A Division and awards were announced after the last performance. The first place winners automatically qualified for the state competition and groups with sufficient scores were also selected to participate in the competition.

Under the direction of orchestra conductor Michelle Lindberg, David Douglas' top orchestra group Symphonic Strings placed first, making them the automatic state qualifiers. The runner up was Adrienne Nelson High School, followed by Clackamas High School in third. The Symphonic group performed three pieces: Suite for Strings: III. Andante con moto and VI. Andante by Leoš Janáček, Holberg Suite Mvt. IV: Air by Edvard Grieg, and Concerto Grosso No. 1: IV. Fugue by Ernest Bloch. 

The David Douglas Wind Ensemble were the 6A champions for band district competition. Their performance consisted of Kevin Day's Requiem for the Unarmed (a piece dedicated to George Floyd and other American police brutality victims), Edgar van Groningen's Hymn of Brotherhood, and lastly Machu Picchu, "City in the Sky" by Satoshi Yagisawa.

The Symphonic Strings musicians and select members of the Wind Ensemble traveled to Oregon State University on May 11  for the OSAA Orchestra and Symphony state competition. High school music groups from around the state performed and were adjudicated. The results were announced that night: Douglas tied with Grant's Pass for third place in the Orchestra Division. Under the direction of band/symphony director Jennifer Brooks, the Symphony composed of string and wind players placed fourth in the Full Orchestra category. 

"The students in both ensembles have put many hours of before and after school rehearsals and sectionals throughout the year to prepare these programs," said Lindberg. "It has been incredible to watch both groups evolve musically, especially over the past month.  The amount of dedication and hard work these students have put in this year has been truly amazing.  We are truly blessed to have the opportunity to work with such hard working and wonderful students."