Sam Barlow High School is home to award-winning Choir, Band, and Theatre programs. In the spring of 2025, these groups participated in state competitions that brought together high school actors and musicians from all over the state.
Band and Choir took to the stage at Portland State University during the first weekend of May at the OSAA State Solo Contest and the OMEA State Small Ensemble Contest. Being chosen for the event is an honor due to the rigorous audition process. Students are responsible for selecting the music and rehearsing outside of school time. In addition to the time commitment of preparing for the competition, students are also up against some of the best high school musicians in the state, making placing a difficult feat. Most years, Barlow has not had any student place, but this year, we had five. Be sure to congratulate the following students:
Senior Weston Glover placed 2nd in state on the French Horn
Junior Emma Nuttall placed 2nd on Bassoon
Junior Josie Williams placed 3rd in the Mezzo-Soprano Vocal category
Percussion Ensemble placed 2nd (performing a piece written by Junior Caleb Frederick)
Woodwind Quartet placed 3rd
Band members also took home other accolades, including placing 6th in the OSAA State Band Contest and 1st place in the Mt. Hood Conference Symphonic Band Contest.
The choir department also saw some wins, starting with Concert Choir being named Mt. Hood Conference League Champions for the first time in 20 years and placing 12th at the OSAA State Choir Championships and District Champions, which qualified them for the OSAA Solo Competition and State Chamber Competition. The following awards were given at the District competition:
1st place Barlow Sound – Large Mixed Ensemble
1st place Bruin Sound – Large Tenor/Bass Ensemble
1st place Kamryn Michaelsen – Soprano
1st place Josie Williams – Mezzo Soprano
1st place Spencer Neighorn – Tenor
And the OSAA State Solo Trophy winner is…
3rd place Josie Williams – Mezzo Soprano
Theatre has had a successful year, beginning with their performance of Hadestown and continuing with their short run of Our Town. The theatre department began its successful competition season with Regionals on February 1, when 44 Bruins participated in and hosted the Northeast Regional Acting Festival. The following students were placed in their respective categories:
REGIONAL FINALISTS
Duo Acting: Emily Behnke & Lee Sare
Duo Acting: Ella Huson & Izzy Jensen
Solo Musical: Nico Spillett
Solo Musical: Briana Bauista Marquez
Solo Musical: Kamryn Michaelsen
STATE QUALIFIERS
Playwriting: Mason Alley
Solo Acting: Grant Cynor-Ford
Solo Acting: Izzy Jensen
Solo Acting: Mason Alley
Duo Acting: Callie Waibel & Grant Cynor-Ford
Duo Acting: Ania Vilius & Kamryn Michaelsen
Duo Acting: Spencer Neighorn & Nico Spillett
Solo Musical: Josie Williams
Solo Musical: Spencer Neighorn
Solo Musical: Noah Feldmann-Parks
Duet Musical: Ania Vilius & Janiyah Jointer
Large Group Musical: Alec Moffitt, Briana Bautista Marquez, Bronwyn Barrie, Elsie Wood, Emma Nuttall, Janiyah Jointer, Josie Williams, Kamryn Michaelsen, Lauren Gayken, Lee Sare, Nico Spillett, Noah Feldmann-Parks, Noah Sou, Spencer Neighorn, Weston Glover & William Baumgarden
The Theatre success didn’t end there! The cast, band, and crew of Hadestown were invited to perform a revival of the musical at the Oregon State Thespian Festival for over 2,500 theatre students and educators from around Oregon on April 4. Aside from this performance, student actors also competed in several categories, and the following came home as state champions:
Ania Vilius and Kamryn Michaelsen were the State Champions in the Duo Dramatic Acting category and got to perform their scene from The Miracle Worker.
Mason Alley was the State Champion in the Playwriting category and was selected to premiere his original play, Worn Out Masks.
Please join the Bruin Banner in congratulating the Band, Choir, and Theatre students on a fantastic year of inspiring performances. May next year be as successful.
