Quincy Choirs Shine Bright at NCWMEA Solo & Ensemble Festival
More than 50 student musicians earn top ratings, with multiple Quincy performers advancing to state
Last weekend, Quincy High School’s choir students and pianist Sawyer Golay took to the stage at the North Central Washington Music Educators Association (NCWMEA) Solo/Ensemble Festival, bringing home an impressive collection of awards and accolades that underscore the talent, dedication, and pride in our local music program.
For many in our community, the NCWMEA Solo/Ensemble Festival may be a new name on the calendar — but it’s a key event in the regional music education scene. Hosted each year by the North Central Washington chapter of the Washington Music Educators Association, this festival gives student musicians from across the region the chance to perform solo and ensemble pieces in front of experienced adjudicators. Participants receive ratings and feedback based on their musicality, technique, and performance, with top performers earning the chance to advance to the state level competition in April. NCWMEA is one of the state’s 22 music educator regions that helps organize and support these events for grades 9–12, allowing students who sing in school choirs or play in ensemble groups to show off months of hard work in a formal setting.
This year marked an historic showing for Quincy: 54 students participated in 32 separate entries, and every single soloist earned a top-tier score — either a Superior (1) or Excellent (2) rating — a testament to hours of preparation and rehearsals under the direction of our music educators. That alone is something our community can beam about.
Even more exciting, several Quincy performers stood out as 1st Place Category Winners, earning trips to the state competition this coming April:
🥇 Spectrum Choir – Large Mixed Ensemble
🥇 The Bach Babies (Ruby Gonzalez & Belle Rollins) – Small Soprano/Alto Ensemble
🥇 Juan Ferreyra – Tenor Solo
🥇 Owen Yeates – Bass Solo
Adding to the day’s success, a handful of our musicians also earned State-Eligible Alternate positions in their categories — placing them just on the cusp of advancing:
🥉 Eithan Villarrooz, Bass Solo
🥉 The Fantastic 4 (Juan Ferreyra, JazzLynn Padron, Gabriela Vidrio Ramirez, Owen Yeates), Small Mixed Ensemble
🥉 Spectrum Sonoro, Large Tenor/Bass Ensemble
Representing over half of the Quincy Choir program, our students not only demonstrated impressive musical talent — they set a new record for participation in this regional event. Their performances reflect not only individual skill, but also the strength and support of the entire Quincy music community — from choir teachers to accompanists, families, and friends who cheer them on.
As we look forward to April’s state competition, we celebrate this day of music, memories, and pride. Congratulations to all of our Quincy musicians — your hard work, passion, and excellence continue to raise the bar for what our community can achieve together. Go Jacks!