Battle Ground musicians score competition awards

Battle Ground — Jazz bands from Battle Ground High School and Chief Umtuch Middle School competed at the 42nd Annual Pleasant Hill Invitational Jazz Festival last month, with musicians from both schools having strong showings. Battle Ground High School’s band earned first-place finishes for Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Advanced Jazz Band and Intermediate II Jazz Band. They also finished second in Jazz Combo. Chief Umtuch Middle School placed third in the Middle School Jazz Band and Combo division categories. Soloist awards were given to Battle Ground High School’s Cade O’Haver and Emily Christensen from the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, O’Haver and Laney Pham from the Advanced Jazz Band, Ashton Henning from the Intermediate II Jazz Band, O’Haver, Jordan Ledbetter and Nicole Furlow in the Vocal Solo Division I, Brooke Hall and Madelyn Breaux in the Vocal Solo Division II. O’Haver and sophomore vocalist Breaux earned the Mike Wiggins Memorial Award for Excellence in Jazz.