The Siuslaw High School Symphonic Band will have to wait 'til next year to return to the state finals.

"The band worked really hard these last couple days, but fell a little bit short," Siuslaw Director of Bands Chris Rowbotham said Wednesday, at the completion of the District Band Festival at Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay.

"I am pleased with the band as a whole and am excited about what these young musicians will bring to the program in the next few years."

Siuslaw loses 6 seniors from a symphonic band now numbering 47 players, including 19 freshmen, 13 sophomores and 9 juniors.

"My thoughts are with our seniors and how proud I am of how far they've come," Rowbotham said.

The seniors include Sean Burns, Benjamin Cahoon, Chandler Call, Blake Morrow, Jack Pickell and Jackson Spinner.

It was a tough finish for a group that had come so far and gotten so close.

Siuslaw received one qualifying score Wednesday and needed two to qualify for the tape pool, which is how the Vikings broke a 9-year drought a year ago to advance to state.

"While (we) did not qualify for the state competition, (we) did improve (our) scores by 10 to 15 points from last Thursday's Western Oregon Band festival," Rowbotham said.

"Our clinician today did a great job with us after our performance. He was able to let us know what we did well and what we need to work on for the future.

"With this still being a young band, most of these students can learn from this experience and apply it to next year."

Siuslaw will perform at the 110th annual Rhododendron Festival and at an end-of-school-year concert in June.

"Each year we continue to get stronger," Rowbotham said. "One of our judges who has seen us perform for the past five years even mentioned that to the group."

NOTES

The Siuslaw band played the following three pieces:

• Oxford Street March arranged by Douglas Wagner
• The Seal Lullaby by Eric Whitacre
• Chorale and Shaker Dance by John Zdechlik

The district competition had two defending state champions performing — 4A titlist North Bend and 2A/1A winner Bandon. ...

Also competing from the Far West League were Brookings-Harbor, Douglas, Marshfield and South Umpqua. ...

Sutherlin, Glide, Coquille, Elkton, Gold Beach, Riddle, Crosshill Christian and North Douglas also performed. ...

Siuslaw band members:

Freshmen (19)

• Nina Aaron
• Andrew Alto
• Margot Fleming
• Destani Fuller
• Memphis Gliewe
• Caleb Hennessee
• Tiffany Hine
• Pedro Infante Marquez
• Chloe Madden
• Daniel Molano
• Jared Northrop
• Luke Olson
• Hannah Rannow
• Sydney Robison
• Elizabeth Rosinbaum
• David Spencer
• Elaijah Stachelrodt
• Caleb VanWinkle
• Anthony Yauger

Sophomores (13)

• McKenzie Colton
• Lupita Figueroa
• Tanner Hilterbrant
• Wrenn Holden
• Maya Howard
• Jessalynn Keppol
• Audrey Lowder
• Timothy Lowder
• Daniel Olson
• Corbin Reber
• Patrick Rowley
• Lillian Wenham
• Nicholas Wilkinson

Juniors (9)

• Marina Arbogast
• Neil De Vera
• Isaac Griffes
• Kristopher Keppol
• Logan Lindner
• Edison Mielke
• Ariel Rosinbaum
• Cameron Utz
• Mallory Varas

Seniors (6)

• Sean Burns
• Benjamin Cahoon
• Chandler Call
• Blake Morrow
• Jack Pickell
• Jackson Spinner