RVSB YOUNG artist educational PROGRAMS, outreach & SCHOLARSHIP
2025 jAMES m. cOLLIER yOUNG aRTIST cOMPETITION
WINNER, ELLIETTE HUTCHINGS
Featured Soloist on "Gabriel's Oboe" during May 17, 2025 concert, “THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND” as part of her competition win prizes.
Bio: Elliette Hutchings is a Senior at North Medford High School this year. Starting with piano, she moved on to learn flute, oboe, saxophone, guitar, and vocals. Elliette performs in the Wind Ensemble at North Medford under the direction of Steve Kessler, Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon directed by Dr. Cynthia Hutton, as well as our very own Rouge Valley Symphonic Band!
She was also a member of the North Medford Jazz Ambassadors and the Timberline Express Big Band. Elliette is currently studying oboe with Kristin Kessler and piano with Georgia Weidman-Clarke, but her former instructors include Lisa Nichols, Daryl Fjeldheim, and Tiffany Schmitt. She plans on attending Willamette University this year, where she will continue to study music while on the pre-medicine track.
Elliette Hutchings, Winner
1ST RUNNER UP, SAMUEL COHAN
Sam Cohan, a Senior at Roseburg High School. has been playing music his whole life, bouncing around from instrument to instrument until he had the opportunity to play oboe in sixth grade.
Sam immediately fell in love with both the challenge that it presented, and the avenues for musical expression that it offered. He’s kept playing ever since then and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon!
Samuel Cohan, 2nd Place
Elliette Hutchings, Post-Concert
2ND RUNNER UP, BELLA MURPHY
Bella Murphy is a 16-year-old student at Ashland High School. She has been playing the flute since 7th grade. Bella is currently principal flute for the Ashland High School Wind Ensemble and the Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon.
She has been accepted to the Western International Band Clinic honor bands and the All-Northwest Honor Band. Bella was also the 2025 OMEA District Solo and Ensemble champion.
Competition made possible by the James M. Collier Foundation’s contribution to RVSB.
Bella Murphy, 3rd Place
second annual middle school initiative - 2025
The Rogue Valley Symphonic Band’s Spring 2025 concert, “RESOUNDING LIGHT” featured the participants in the 2nd Annual Middle School Initiative. The Initiative involves 8th grade music students joining our ensemble during key pieces of our repertoire. As many have come to realize, music education and participation in band activities has innumerable benefits to the mental health of young people/children. This concert, including the rehearsals the students will participate in, give these young musicians a glimpse into where their musicianship and hard work can take them for the remainder of their lives.
DETAILS
RVSB collaborated with Middle School Band Directors in the Rogue Valley school districts, providing educational opportunities and experiences for select, nominated middle school students to perform with the Band during our March 2025 concert, “RESOUNDING LIGHT”. Along with organizer Andrew Donahue, we would like to thank our mentors and volunteers who worked with these students individually to help ready them for joining RVSB’s large group rehearsals in preparation for the Spring concert pieces.
Mentors: Jim Hostick, Dr. Alexander Gonzalez, Lorin Groshong, Hi’iaka Kekipi, and Jared Rountree.
A BIG THANK YOU TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, BAND LEADERS & STUDENTS
Each of the 11 students in the Initiative has been playing for 2-3 years and was excited to perform during “RESOUNDING LIGHT” concert. Below are a few quotes about their thoughts on music and band participation.
Ashland Middle School
Jenifer Carstensen - Band Leader
Lola Sorsoli - Euphonium
”LOVE playing music!”
Maren Villanueva - Oboe
“Playing and learning my instrument has offered me so much growth, opportunity, and connection through the Music community.
Dorian Zorne - Percussion
“Music is awesome! The planet Earth would be boring and terrible without music.”
Hedrick Middle School
David Sommers - Band Leader
Erling Swensen - Trombone
”I especially like Jazz, but enjoy music in general!”
Early Rouhier - Trombone
”Band opens up a lot of opportunities.”
Declan Emerick - Percussion
”I like playing music, experimenting with different styles, and personalizing playing.”
McLoughlin Middle School
Andrew Donahue - Band Leader
Luke Blank - Alto Saxophone
”I enjoy being able to make music and the challenge & fun of it.”
Frankie Graham - Clarinet
”Band is FUN!”
Liam Edgar - Trumpet
”LOVE band!”
Oakdale Middle School
Claire Schmitz - Band Leader
Isabella Andrade - Percussion
”I enjoy playing all of the percussion instruments. I get to use glasses on this concert!”
Maile Ramirez - Trumpet
”I like the songs we play & the opportunities band brings.”
Middle School Initiative made possible by the James M. Collier Foundation’s contribution to RVSB.
This project, developed by RVSB band member, and McLoughlin Middle School Band Leader, Andrew Donahue, incorporates RVSB’s Mission & Initiative, bridging the gaps in music education for talented students who will be the future music educators. Music is for Life: Multigenerational (ages 15-80+), multicultural, symphonic band of 60+ members who perform 4 concerts per year of Grade 4-6 concert band music. Music keeps older brains working and teaches younger brains a new universal language they can enjoy for a lifetime.
