SE honor concert at Colfax

At Monday night’s honor choir and band concert in Colfax, Southeast Washington Music Educators presented the “Friend of Music” award to Colfax Superintendent Jerry Pugh. St. John/Endicott’s Billy Ray, Jr., president of the association, presented the award. Pugh was named for recognizing the need for improvements to the CHS auditorium and moving the project to the list of work which will be done with the funds from a bond issue which was approved by school district voters in the Feb. 13 special election. He was also recognized for adding funds to the district’s music budget which allowed for purchase of instruments and new materials.

Music teachers Cary Cammack of Colfax and Brad Green of Waitsburg, who both plan to retire at the end of this school year, were recognized for their long years of service. Ray noted their combined total length of service for music instruction amounted to more than seven decades.

Cammack was also recognized by Lori Wiest, guest conductor of the choir, for his accompaniment of the honor choir.

The concert included 60 students in the honor choir directed by Wiest and 54 students in the honor band directed by Dave Turnbull. Both guest conductors are professors of music at Washington State University.

Students from 10 schools participated in the concert. In addition to Colfax and St. John/Endicott, other schools participating were Asotin, Clarkston, Dayton, Garfield/Palouse, Connell, Kahlotus/Washtucna, Oakesdale and Waitsburg.

Students in the honor choir and band practiced with the guest conductors during the day at Colfax in preparation for last night’s concert.