More Concerts: WIBC

Nov 24^th, Sunday: Even though it was Joan’s birthday, we decided not to go to the Boston Brass concert at WIBC (Western International Band Clinic – HS students audition to go and then they stay the whole weekend at the SeaTac Doubletree and have rehearsals ALL days for two days –Sat/Sunday-- and then play the concerts on Monday.  Also, band directors have workshops all weekend and Andy went to those.  It’s an annual event – we went two years, too, to see Clayton….and the Boston Brass then too.  The family knows the Boston Brass guys, Natalie soloed with them a couple of times) because of the traffic and parking problems: President Obama was flying into SeaTac for the Democratic  fund-raising dinner --$25,000/plate – landing at SeaTac instead of McCord AFB where all the other presidents would fly into, so SeaTac was closed and I-5 closed both north and south lanes.) 


with the Boston Brass tubist
 

      Winnie texted to see if we’d like to go to the concert and that they could pick us up….so we went and had a wonderful evening at the Boston Brass concert after all!  As Andy said, "You NEVER want to miss a Boston Brass concert!"

     Monday – Clayton’s birthday and WIBC concerts, which started about noon. After the concerts, they announced those students who had been chosen to go to the Australia band exchange next October. .... ( all based on the auditions which were required for these bands even this weekend,)   we were just sitting there, only ½ interested.

     They announced the six that had been chosen (out of the 350 who wanted to go) and said that those students had known ahead of time. But they said the best ones --four--were getting a scholarship to go and that those students did not know that they were selected.
      Clayton was the first one announced!!! He ran down raising his arms cheering! People really liked that.  We just couldn't believe it.  (Joan just kept saying, “I can’t believe it!” over and over.)  They announced the students ' schools first, so the schools were honored too.
      They announced the other two students and then said that the next student would be the first time two students from the same family would be going (and Joan started to say, "No, No, it can’t be!”)... And yes, Eastside Catholic was called again and it was Natalie!  They received medals which were actually engraved with their names!

     So they will be going to Australia next October for 10 days!  (They do have to provide about ½ the cost, but so much is already given!
   Such exciting days!!!

At Cheesecake Factory

Clayton had another concert that night with the Issaquah Symphony.  He arrived early.