The Park City School District (PCSD) music program is celebrating a record-breaking year, with 22 students selected to perform in the prestigious Utah Music Educators Association (UMEA) All-State ensembles.
The selection represents a historic high for the district, which now boasts the largest contingent of any 4A high school, surpassing many larger 6A programs.
“It is a joy and a privilege to work with such great music students,” said Zachary Giddings, band director for Park City High School and Ecker Hill Middle School. “At the end of the day, all of our music staff will agree that this accolade belongs to the individual students who auditioned for the ensembles and made it. They are the ones doing the work. That being said, I think the fact we had such a high number of students make the UMEA All-State ensembles is a great sign of the health of our music program.”
Giddings emphasized the district’s commitment to lifelong music education.
“We are fortunate to have full-time, licensed music educators in every elementary school, who inspire our students to be excited to make music for the rest of their lives, and it is a joy and a privilege to be a part of these students’ musical journeys,” Giddings said. “Even if they do not become professional musicians, I hope these life lessons will result in them being better humans who will support the arts, no matter what excellent things they pursue in the future.”
The district’s success extends beyond state borders. Park City High School junior and percussionist Oskars Auzins was selected for the Honor Band of America. Auzins will travel to Indianapolis in mid-March to represent Park City at the Music for All National Festival.
Fine Arts Coordinator Bret Hughes highlighted the program’s upward trajectory during a presentation to the Board of Education on Jan. 20. He noted that recent staffing realignments, which allow educators to teach across grades 6-12, are already yielding results.
Additionally, the program continues to benefit from the Park City Education Foundation (PCEF), which has provided transformational grants for authentic assessment tools and professional musician mentorship in classrooms.
The pipeline for future success remains strong, with three middle school ensembles selected to perform at the State Junior High Band & Orchestra Festival this spring: the Ecker Hill Middle School (EHMS) Orchestra 3, EHMS Band 3, and EHMS Concert Band.
“I am incredibly proud of these students for representing PCSD so well at the All-State and State Junior High Festivals,” said Eva Marble, director of secondary orchestra. “Auditioning for any ensemble takes a great deal of work, and participating in the process helps students grow on their instruments. We are especially grateful to PCEF for sponsoring two classroom grants that support students during their audition preparation.”
2026 All-State Student Selections
All-State Wind Symphony
Henry Nagel, Clarinet
Megan Jensen, Trumpet
Katherine Jones, Percussion
Oskars Auzins, Percussion
All-State Symphonic Band
Jake Michels, Trumpet
Jose Becerra, Trombone
All-State Jazz Band
Owen Smyth, Lead Tenor Saxophone
Jem Woolley, Guitar
Junior High All-State Concert Band
Erik Coleman, Bassoon (Alternate)
Charlotte Provan, Oboe
Oliver Bodnar, Alto Saxophone (Alternate)
Callen Betker, Baritone Saxophone
Torin Devaney, Trumpet
Ryder Thomas, Trumpet
Shia Stern, Trumpet
Cloe Sato, French Horn
Charles “Tripp” Ochello III, French Horn
All-State Full Orchestra
Chase Kofford, Violin
All-State String Orchestra
Adelaide Lewis, Violin
Anna Coleman, Viola
Vivian Pulham, Viola
Luke Conneally, Viola
