Townsend Earns Superior at State Music Festival

HELENA – Seeley-Swan High School junior Jared Townsend earned the top score for his trumpet solo "Aria" by Georg Goltermann played at the State Music Festival in Helena May 5.

Townsend played with accompanist Sandy Abbott for Dr. Kevin Griggs at District Music in April. Griggs is the Associate Director Bands/Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Montana.

Griggs suggested Townsend add a bit of vibrato to his piece to add more character along with working on some more dynamics to make the piece more musical. He also suggested smoother air for the moving notes.

"I had worked hard at imp...