ARLINGTON — Ten of 12 Arlington High School Band students received “superior” scores at the Mount Pilchuck Music Educators Association Senior Division Solo and Ensemble Contest.

Cascade High School in Everett served as the site for the MPMEA Solo-Ensemble Contest on Feb. 5, from which the top-scoring students in each category were selected to compete this April at the Washington Music Educators Association State Solo and Ensemble Contest, which will take place at Central Washington University in Ellensburg.

AHS soloists going to the state competition this year include Rosalie Boyle on harp and Becca Kostick on bass clarinet. AHS clarinet trio players Jacob O’Bryant, Andrew Clark and Ryann Lewis won First Alternate in the Woodwinds and Small Ensemble division.

Laureen Breon, Iris Ingram, Naomi Kern and Richelle Tripp volunteered their time to provide piano accompaniment for these young musicians, with Breon accompanying six of the Arlington students. Many of these students were encouraged to participate in this event by their private music instructors, and spent months outside the classroom learning extra pieces, practicing and coordinating rehearsals with accompanists and fellow ensemble members.

AHS Band Director John Grabowski personally attended each Arlington student’s solo and ensemble performances, as they competed for top honors against fellow high school students from schools in the MPMEA district from Stanwood to Sultan.