Participants

OUr Team

These 20 outstanding honor band musicians were selected from over 1000 Western International Band Clinic auditions in the fall of 2019 & winter of 2021. The WIBC Board of Directors selected these top students from various high schools throughout the United States.

Students listed below earned a chance to participate in the Sept/Oct. 2020 trip to Australia. Due to the pandemic, this trip was canceled.

As we get closer to the 2021 PHEP trip, these students, in addition to new participants selected from the Virtual WIBC Conference, will have the option to travel to Australia. Please check back in Feb. 2021.

Current

Grace Lovell

Alto Sax

Steilacoom H.S. - Washington

I’m 15 years old and graduating In the class of 2022 from Steilacoom High School, in Washington State.I’ve been playing the alto sax since 6th grade and I went to State Solo & Ensemble my freshman year. I play soccer and run on the track team and I like to draw and paint. I have 2 older sisters and a little brother. I’ve never been to Australia before and I think it will be an awesome experience!

Julia Ferguson

Horn

Ashland HS - Oregon

Julia Ferguson is a Junior at Ashland High School. She has played French Horn for 6 years and has played in the Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon for 5. She also takes private lessons with Cynthia Hutton. She is her district’s Solo champion and also competed at the state level. In her free time she loves hiking, reading, and spending quality time with her cats. Julia is very excited and grateful for the opportunity to travel to Australia and play in PHEP!

Ayako Harper

Oboe

North Bend HS - Oregon

My name is Ayako Harper and I am 17 years old. I am currently a junior at North Bend High School in Oregon, and I’ve been playing the oboe since sixth grade. I have been in my school’s top symphonic band since my freshman year, and I’ve been the first chair oboist since my sophomore year. I attended WIBC during my sophomore and junior years in the Phoenix and Firebird bands.

Along with the oboe, I also have been the lead tenor sax in our jazz band since my freshman year, and I play the snare drum in marching and pep band. On my own time, I enjoy playing the viola as well.

After high school, I plan on attending university to achieve my career goal of being a band director in my hometown in Japan.

Outside of band, I enjoy being a thrower in the track and field team, hanging out with friends, and traveling.

Nate Kessler

Horn

North Medford HS - Washington

Nate Kessler is a 16 year old junior who attends North Medford High School in Medford, Oregon. Nate began playing violin at age 5, started trumpet in 6th grade, and French horn in 8th grade. At North, he plays in the Symphonic Band, Jazz Cadets, Marching Band, and Basketball Pep Band. In addition to being selected for WIBC, Nate was chosen to be a part of Oregon's All-State Symphonic Band in 2020, and he is a member of the Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon. In his spare time, he enjoys playing video games, hanging out with his nerdy band friends, and listening to records. Nate is excited to be a part of the 2020 PHEP experience!

Tristen Marshall

Tenor Sax

Spanaway Lake HS - Washington

My name is Tristen Marshall. I'm a senior at Spanaway Lake High School in Spanaway, WA where I play in the wind ensemble and also the jazz band.

I've been playing tenor sax for 7 years and plan on pursuing a career in music education.

Patrick Moret

Alto Sax

Mountainside HS - Oregon

Patrick Moret is a 16-year-old sophomore at Mountainside High School in Beaverton, Oregon. He has been playing saxophone for 3 and a half years, is a member of his school’s Wind Ensemble, and takes private lessons. His freshman year he was selected for the All-District Honor Band and competed in the district level solo contest. This year, in addition to All-District, he attended WIBC and Oregon’s All-State honor band both for the first time. Outside of music, Patrick spends his time playing for his highschool’s basketball and cross country team. He is very excited to be part of PHEP and visit Australia.

Jack Ogan

Tuba
Sisters HS -Oregon

Jack Ogan is 16 years old and is a junior attending Sisters Highschool, Oregon. Jack has been playing tuba for 5 years and plays in his schools Wind Ensemble, plays trombone in the Jazz Band, and sings in the schools Concert Choir. In his community he plays tuba in the Cascade Winds Symphonic Band, the local collegiate and community band. He has attended the OMEA State Solo & Ensemble festival the past 2 years, as well as the Western International Band Clinic, and All State-Wind Ensemble.

Jack plans to pursue music performance and education at the collegiate level, but has many passions outside of music as well. He spends his free time skateboarding, creating art, and exploring the outdoors and local wilderness areas. Jack is honored and thrilled to take part in the PHEP program, and can't wait to see Australia.

Galena Wortman

Tenor Sax

West Albany HS - Oregon

I am 17 years and a junior at West Albany High School. I have been playing saxophone for seven years. I play in the West Albany Jazz 1 Band, and principle tenor saxophone in the wind ensemble under the direction of Stuart Welsh. Outside of school, I study saxophone with Mike Stopher. In addition to WIBC, I have played in the NAFME All-Northwest Band, OMEA All-State Band, and have competed in the state solo/ensemble. I also had the honor to perform with the Oregon Ambassadors of Music in Europe. After high school, I plan to major in psychology and minor in music.

When I am not in school or playing my saxophone, I play piano, volunteer at Safe Haven Humane Society, enjoy dancing at my studio, and love paddleboarding. I am extremely honored and grateful to be selected for the Pacific Honors Ensemble Program as a scholarship recipient, and am very exited to see the animals and experience Australia.

Aoife Buckley

Clarinet

Issaquah HS - Washington

Aoife Buckley is an incoming senior at Issaquah High School, in Issaquah, Washington. She has played clarinet for eight years, and has attended both WIBC and WMEA All-State Performance groups throughout her musical career. She is principal clarinet in her school district’s honor orchestra, the Evergreen Philharmonic, in addition to the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Eastside Youth Concert Band. Performance highlights for Aoife include guest playing in the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra, concerto performances with the Evergreen Philharmonic, and winning her district solo contest and heading to the state finals in 2020.

Outside of music, Aoife enjoys skiing and playing board games with her friends and family. She is very excited to be a part of PHEP and perform in and experience Australia.

David Castro

Alto Sax

Orting HS - Washington

Coming soon!

Logan Lasala

Euphonium

Summit HS - Oregon

Logan is a 17 year old junior at Summit High School in Bend, Oregon. He is the principal euphonium player in the school’s Wind Ensemble and plays the trombone in the school’s top jazz ensemble. He has been playing euphonium for 5 years and has participated in his local district honor band, OMEA’s All-State Honor Bands, the Western International Band Clinic, and the OSAA State Solo and Ensemble Festival.

Logan is also a part of his school's cross country running team, and is involved in several clubs at school. Logan is honored to be able to participate in the Pacific Honors Ensemble Program, and is excited to strengthen his musical abilities and meet new friends.

Thomas Lonowski

Percussion

Ellensburg HS - Washington

Hello! My name is Thomas Lonowski, and I am a Junior at Ellensburg High School in Washington State. My biggest hobbies include music, tennis, and Boy Scouts. My main instrument is percussion, and within this category, snare drum is my favorite instrument to play.

This year I had the honor of participating in Washington State's inaugural All-State Percussion Ensemble, in addition to other music competitions such as Solo & Ensemble. I am extremely looking forward to the PHEP Honor Band experience later this year!

Hanna Moon-Earle

Flute

Auburn Riverside HS - Washington

Coming Soon!

Kieran Perret

Tuba

Mountain View HS - Oregon

Coming Soon!

Samuel Smith

Trombone

Summit HS - Oregon

I am 17 years old and a junior at Summit High School in Bend, Oregon. I have been playing trombone for 6 years, and play in my school’s Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble. Outside of high school, I also play in the Central Oregon Community College Big Band and Wind Ensemble, and study trombone with Dan Flagg. My sophomore year I attended the State Solo/Ensemble Competition, my junior year I played in the All-State Wind Ensemble and the WIBC Firebird band, and after high school I plan on pursuing a career in music performance.

I am extremely grateful to have been selected for PHEP, and can’t wait to go to Australia later this year!

Dylan Stone

Bassoon

Southridge HS - Oregon

Dylan Stone is a 16 year old sophomore at Southridge High School in Beaverton, Oregon. He started playing bassoon as a freshman, after playing clarinet and saxophone in middle school. Dylan was the clarinet section leader for the Southridge Marching band, and played in the pit orchestra for this year’s performance of Spamalot.

Outside of school, he has participated in a variety of camps, clinics, and ensembles, including WIBC, Portland Youth Philharmonic’s Conservatory Orchestra, Woodwinds at Wallowa, Northwest Band Camp, OMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra, and Beaverton District Honor Band. He has had the opportunity to study under two members of the Oregon Symphony, and taken classes from world-renowned musicians like Ben Kamins. Dylan is excited to visit Australia and to be part of the PHEP program.

Susanna Sun

Trumpet

Arroyo Grande HS - California

Susanna Sun is a 16-year-old junior from Arroyo Grande High School in California. She plays trumpet for Marching Band, Jazz Combo, and Wind Ensemble. In her six years of playing, she has been the principal player for the San Luis Obispo Honor Band, Youth Symphony, Cuesta Wind Ensemble, and WIBC Firebird Band. On two occasions, she has soloed for the Cuesta Winds and the SLO Symphonic Winds. When not playing music, she enjoys spending time with friends, traveling, competing in mock trial, and drinking hot tea.

Susanna is honored and grateful for the opportunity to perform with such a fantastic ensemble. She is looking forward to seeing all the amazing things in Australia!

Kiela Uchimura

Flute

Issaquah HS - Washington

Coming Soon!

Cody Yoder

Tenor Sax

Woodland HS - Oregon

Cody Yoder is a sixteen-year-old sophomore from Woodland, WA. He enjoys performing in Lower Columbia College’s Jazz Band, along with his school’s Pep, Marching, Concert, and award-winning Jazz Band and Jazz Choir. He also enjoys performing with his friends in their saxophone quartet and playing bass & piano for his church.

Music is a large part of Cody’s life, but in his free time, he enjoys acting, playing club volleyball, traveling, photography, and cooking. After high school, Cody plans to attend university and major in Music Performance with a minor in Jazz Composition. He appreciates all of the opportunities given to him through music, and the adventures and memories PHEP will bring.