High school hosting mass band event

On May 13, students from 12 southwest Washington school bands will fill Wahkiakum High School’s gym with a wall of sound in competition and performance in a Mass Band event.

This is the first time the event has come to Cathlamet in music teacher Darla Mead’s memory.

“We are expecting 260-280 students for the event,” Mead said.

With two judges presiding, each band will perform a piece of their own choosing along with another selection that has been chosen from the set list of songs to be performed by the mass band in the evening.

In the afternoon, there will be a last rehearsal for the mass band and another for the honor band. The honor band is a handful of students that have been selected by their band leaders for their musicianship.

The Wahkiakum High School band will be joined from bands from Adna, Toutle Lake, Ilwaco, Knappa, Raymond, Onalaska, Mossyrock, Winlock, Ocosta, Toledo and Pe Ell.

The bands have been meeting for the past few weeks to rehearse in Winlock.

The public is invited to attend the competition and rehearsals, as well as the performance, which will begin at 7 p.m.