Redmond High drum major headed to state competition

Nick Roels, drum major for the Redmond High School (RHS) pep band, will be headed to the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) State Solo and Ensemble Competition at Central University on April 25.

Nick Roels, drum major for the Redmond High School (RHS) pep band, will be headed to the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) State Solo and Ensemble Competition at Central University on April 25.

Roels has been playing percussion for more than six years. He started playing at Evergreen Middle School under the direction of Eric Peterson, and then at RHS under the direction of Andy Robertson. At RHS, he has been involved in wind ensemble, jazz band, every musical play and has been a guest with the Washington Wind Symphony. Additionally, he has played for Snowflake Lane in Bellevue for two years and has composed several pieces of music, as well.

This year, Roels played for WMEA’s All-State Symphony under the direction of Gerard Schwartz, Pacific Lutheran University’s honor band and honor jazz band and the Lake Washington Honor Band.

Last summer, he was nominated to play with the Washington Ambassadors of Music, a touring ensemble that played Americana favorites in seven countries for 15 days. This experience inspired him to begin his own jazz band, The Jazz Squad. This group of eight RHS students and alumni has played several community events at Redmond Town Center, Redmond Lights, Emerald Heights Senior Living and several wineries in Woodinville. They specialize in music from the 1930s-’50s — such as standards by Count Basie, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, and add a little funk with Herbie Hancock and Maynard Ferguson tunes.

Roels is looking forward to being in the Bulldog Pep Band when he attends Gonzaga University in the Fall with a triple major in jazz studies, composition and business.