Johnathan Lee, a senior at Rogers High School, recently won the Student Soloist Competition for the Tacoma Concert Band and now has the honor of playing with the award-winning band at the Pantages Theater in Tacoma on Saturday, April 23. The performance is “One Hand, One Heart,” featuring music inspired by tales of love, connectedness, and relationships. Lee will be the featured soloist throughout a three-movement piece of music.
To be eligible for competition, students had to apply, have letters of recommendation, and audition/perform for a panel. Only one student is selected for the featured soloist spot in the Tacoma Concert Band’s final concert.
Lee prepared a solo piece on the alto saxophone for a panel of judges within the Tacoma Concert Band and was selected based on the accuracy and musicality of his performance. In addition to the opportunity to perform his solo with the Tacoma Concert Band, he will receive a financial scholarship.
Described by Rogers Band Director Stephen Pickard as a naturally gifted musician who puts in countless hours to his craft, Lee plays the Alto Saxophone as his main instrument, and he also plays guitar and piano exceptionally well. “When you watch him play, you see the sum of his investment in practicing as well as his mature musicianship,” said Pickard.
The soloist competition is not the only music contest Lee has won recently. He is also the winner of the South Sound Symphonic Band student soloist scholarship.
At the Valley Region Solo and Ensemble Contest on February 26, Lee won the soprano/alto saxophone solo category, tenor/baritone saxophone solo category. He also helped lead three ensembles: a saxophone quartet and saxophone octet as well as a large percussion ensemble that also won the Valley Region contest. All these solos and ensembles will be competing at the Washington State Solo and Ensemble Contest on April 29 and 30 at Central Washington University. Lee has also won the state solo division of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) the last two years and has competed at the national level both years. He was a finalist for the KING FM 98.1 Young Artist Awards.
Lee is a member of the Rogers High School concert choir and studies with Fred Winkler, professor of saxophone at the University of Puget Sound and Western Washington University.