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POSITIVE NOTES – La Conner High junior Ashley Davis has been named to the All-State Wind Ensemble as a bass clarinet player. He also plays a pretty mean sax and is sharing his knowledge and love of music as a teacher’s aide with the La Conner Elementary School Fifth Grade Band. – Photo by Bill Reynolds
Ashley Davis isn’t apt to toot his own horn.
But the La Conner High junior can and does – in a literal sense, anyway – on those occasions when he takes up the saxophone.
The laidback and modest Davis, however, is best known for playing the bass clarinet. And not just on and around the local campus.
Davis recently auditioned for and was selected to the All-State Wind Ensemble during the Washington Music Educators Association Conference in Yakima.
A member of the La Conner High boys’ basketball team, Davis scored a figurative slam dunk while performing several challenging pieces, including Symphony No. 1 “The Lord of the Rings” and Danza Final.
“It was a great experience,” Davis told the Weekly News, “but I was very nervous.”
La Conner Schools Director of Bands and Choirs McKenzie Clark knew Davis wouldn’t be foiled by a case of the butterflies.
“Ashley has a lot of strengths as a musician,” said Clark, who encouraged Davis to try out for the All-State Band. “He’s curious, creative, and versatile.”
On the latter count, Clark pointed out that Davis plays three different instruments. And does so quite well.
Not only did Davis wow All-State judges, but as a Wind Ensemble choice he was named to the most select of three All-State Band lineups.
“What’s really important to stress,” Clark said, “is that he was selected from students from 2B to 4A schools, both private and public. And by being picked for the Wind Ensemble, he was chosen for the smallest and most selective group.”
Davis began preparing well in advance of the State Music Educators gathering, working with Clark in October to develop a recording for review. That went better than expected, said Davis, often his own worst critic.
He received his music for the conference in January, during the height of basketball season.
“I really didn’t have a lot of time to practice,” conceded Davis, whose hoops campaign ran well into February.
When the big day arrived, Davis’ dad, Jim Davis, took a rare day off from his position as a heating/air conditioning technician to make the drive to Yakima.
Coincidentally, the All-State Band hopefuls met at Davis High School in Yakima.
That proved a good omen.
Clark wasn’t at all surprised by Davis’ success, aware that music is a top priority for the La Conner teen.
Davis, in fact, plans to major in music education in college and is currently serving as a teacher’s aide for La Conner Elementary School’s fifth grade band.
“He’s definitely learning the ropes,” Clark said. “We have him doing some conducting and he’s showing he can take beginners from zero to hero (status). We’re lucky to have him.”
The All-State Wind Ensemble feels the same.
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