Ten GUHS students were chosen to attend the Honor Choir and Band Festival Concert Nov. 11. Front, Nathan Roy. From left, Shaylee Joslin, Audrey Lallatin, Seth Lallatin, Morgan Cleaver, Elyse Lemaire, Preston Ake, Nicole Lane and Amanda Buckhaults - she sang the national anthem at the state football playoff game in Bend Nov. 22. Not pictured, Tim Jones.<I><BR>The Eagle/Angel Carpenter</I>

MILTON-FREEWATER – Ten Grant Union High School music students traveled to McLoughlin High School for the Honor Choir and Band Festival Concert held Nov. 11.

They joined high-level music students from more than a dozen other schools throughout the eastern part of the state, converging for what Elyse Lemaire called, “music heaven.”

Students nominated by their music teacher Mary Ann Vidourek for the honor were Lemaire, Amanda Buckhaults (soprano); Morgan Cleaver, Nicole Lane, Shaylee Joslin (alto); Preston Ake (tenor); Nathan Roy (trumpet); Audrey Lallatin (trombone); Tim Jones (tuba); and Seth Lallatin (percussion).

“It was a great experience,” Roy said, “and it brought out the best of music in Eastern Oregon including our part of the world.”

“More people should try it,” said Seth Lallatin.

Audrey Lallatin’s favorite piece was “Three Phrases from Yugoslav Folk Songs” by Daniel Buckvich. Peter Crawford, a music teacher at Whitman College in Walla Walla, directed the band program.

Most of the girls in choir liked the German song “Zigeunerleben” by Robert Schumann. The title is “A Gypsy’s Life” in English. Lori Weist, an associate professor of music at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., directed the choir with accompaniment by Kevin Durfee.

The students had two days of rehearsal, then the concert. Vidourek was pleased with the students’ performance.

“As always, they represented our school and band and choir well,” she said. “It’s a wonderful experience performing with a high level of musicianship. You have the cream of the crop from all those schools. It’s always amazing to me how much work gets accomplished in a short amount of time.”