Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

Music Students and Programs at Watauga High School Recognized for Excellence

Continuing a banner year for arts programs at Watauga High School, the Advanced Women’s Ensemble and the Honors Chorus from Watauga High School recently received superior ratings at the NC State Choral Festival in Gastonia. The Advanced Women’s Ensemble consists of 38 female students, and the Honors Chorus includes 38 males and females. One judge at the festival commented that the Honors Chorus’ choice of music was “gutsy” because the chorus sung both pieces a cappella with very difficult chord progressions. Both groups competed in Grade V, with Grade VI being the most difficult; Lisa Combs directs both groups.

Individual choral students recognized this year include Cam Haas, Ben Fitzgerald, Erin Parsons, Abby Foster and Jamie Sheppard, who participated in All State Chorus in Greensboro; Kyle Miller, Kimmy Kanagy and Teresa Smith, who were accepted into the Mars Hill Choral Clinic; and Murray Nickel, who was selected for the State Honors Choir.

Instrumental music students at Watauga High School have also won recognition this year. The Honors Orchestra received a superior rating at the NC State Orchestra Festival at Gardner-Webb University on March 7, the sixth time the group achieved this rating in the last seven years. In addition, Jon Carroll was selected for the Western Region Honors Orchestra playing the French horn, while violinists Konrad Kosmala and Minori Ohashi, percussionist Nikos Vamvaketis, and Brandon Combs on bass clarinet were selected for the Western Regional Repertory Orchestra. Tim Walker directs the orchestra.

The Watauga High School Band received an excellent rating in prepared pieces and a superior rating in sight reading at the NC State Festival in Hickory. Band students receiving individual recognition include Stephen Knutson, who participated in State Honors Jazz Ensemble; Stefano Romano and Thomas Simon, who attended Western Regional Jazz Ensemble; and Justin Beebe and Nathan Moody, who attended North Western District Honors Band. Bill Winkler directs the high school band and jazz ensemble.

The high school’s excellence in the performing arts did not end with music. The Playmakers, an honors drama group, won superior ratings for both one act plays that they took to the Regional North Carolina Theater Conference and won the statewide Distinguished Play Award for the best play at the North Carolina Theater Conference One Act Play Competition. They represented North Carolina at the Southeastern Theater Conference in Chattanooga, where Noelle Austin was named to the All-Star Acting Team that consists of only 20 actors in a 10-state region. The Playmakers are under the direction of Sarah Miller and technical director Greg Pope.

The community can continue to support the school’s performing arts programs by attending the school’s spring performances, including the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on May 14, 15 and 16.