From the top Honor band, choir gather in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Lewis Norfleet stood in front of the assembled high school musicians and appreciated the depth of the task at hand.

Norfleet, director of bands at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, had to take these kids from nearly a dozen different schools and during the course of 10 hours, turn them into an orchestra that would perform that night.

So, he started from the beginning.

“Wind players, I need you to sit up straight and on the edge of your seats. Let’s start with some breathing exercises,” he began. “Breathe in on four … 1, 2, 3, 4, breathe out on eight.”

As he counted, the gathered musicians all inhaled through their noses, and then exhaled in unison. “Sh.. Sh.. Sh.. Sh..” Eight beats. Twelve beats. Sixteen beats. Eight. Four. Two.

“Okay, good. Now let’s get started,” Norfleet said.

Kevin Barber, a senior from Cashmere High School, leaned on his bass. He didn’t have to be part of the breathing exercises — his stringed instrument didn’t require his breath to make noise — but he did anyway.

“I like being here,” he said of the Honor Band Festival at Moses Lake High School on Tuesday.

The festival brought together the top 10 percent of music students from 35 schools in north-central Washington to play and sing and show off their gifts and abilities.

Barber, who has been playing the upright bass for four years and the bass guitar for nine, said he was last a part of an honor band in eighth grade, and it was enjoyable then too.

“I want to double major in music and performance, and then get a doctorate,” the 17-year-old bassist said. “I want to teach. I want to be a band director.”

In the Moses Lake High School gym, a similar group of high schoolers faced the Eastern Washington University choir director after a day of practicing.

“Can you overdo every consonant? I need you all to move air,” said Kristine Ploeger, who also works with the Spokane Symphony. She waved her arms and plodded the kids to sing out more.

“I need to hear what you are singing,” she said.

“I’m not tired yet, but after tonight, I will be,” said Sam Roeber, a junior at Moses Lake School who sings bass in the choir.

“This is a cool experience. I’m meeting new people and hearing new voices, and it’s amazing that we are coming together so quickly,” the 16-year-old said.

Roeber wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life, but he knew would “always keep singing.”

Back in the auditorium Norfleet looked out over his newly formed orchestra at the end of the day, put down his baton, and told them how to comport themselves at the end of the performance.

“When you stand up [to take a bow], look happy about it,” he said. “I know it’s been a long day.”

But Northfleet also encouraged these high school students — especially the seniors — to continue making music after they graduate.

“Don’t let your musical life stop with 12th grade,” he said. “Keep playing. It gets more fun.”