Hockinson musicians take home multiple prizes

Brush Prairie — Hockinson High School musicians had an award-filled weekend April 12-15, as the high school’s jazz band won first place in its division and in sight reading at the University of Portland Jazz Festival. Trombonist Riley Lyons won the award for best soloist. The school’s wind ensemble received a gold medal at the Columbia Basin College Band Festival in Pasco, where flutists Liz Lindsley and Rebekah Soft were both recognized for outstanding solos. The jazz band also finished first in its division of the jazz portion of the Columbia Basin College Band Festival. Lyons and drummer Erik Hawkins were recognized for outstanding solos. The school’s rhythm section — Zeke Dodson, Briell King, Isaac Zora and Erik Hawkins — and sax section — Olivia Gaines, Sydney Henwood, Jack Broer, Tanner Linton and Brian Schauer — were named outstanding rhythm and saxophone sections, respectively, for the AA division. Hockinson also won the Outstanding Instrumental Department award for the AA division, an award given to the school with the highest combined scores for jazz band and concert band.