Miriam's freshman band

Marching band, percussion ensemble, jazz band, pep band, concert and symphonic bands. This kid played basically everything there was to play during her first year of high school. (That's what being a percussionist gets you.) Because there are already several percussion kids involved with jazz band (Max on bass part-time, Brock and Andrew splitting drum set/auxiliary), Miriam had to carve out a niche as a vibraphone player (which, I'm told, is a jazzy instrument). Besides the time she put into it in school, she also took lessons from a BYU-I student.

Saturday, February 22: BYU-I jazz festival

Miriam and the rest of the jazz band got to spend Friday and Saturday in Rexburg attending workshops, performing in front of judges, and getting feedback.

Playing the vibes in the Snow Building.

Wednesday, March 19: School band concert

More vibes with the jazz band.

Saturday, April 5: Northstar fundraiser

Miriam and the rest of the BHS percussion ensemble perform at Thunder Ridge High School during a Northstar Independent Drum Line fundraiser. 

Monday, April 14: Band dinner show/fundraiser

Miriam performed with the jazz band and then helped to serve food at this fundraiser. 

Playing vibes in her hat and sunglasses during "Poison."

In a conga line with Winnie and a bunch of BHS band members. Why? Why not?

Wednesday, April 30: Jazz band concert

This is probably my favorite band concert of the entire year because (1) it's at the end, so they've had lots of good practice time and (2) it's the jazz band, so you know it's going to be fun.

Miriam wearing a super old school marching band hat. The kids marched in ... except those kids who couldn't march their instruments (including the vibraphone).

In her cool hat and shades for one of the songs.

Cute vibes player.

Seriously ... can she be any cuter?

Friday, May 2: Solo and ensemble

Miriam and the other participants (there were about a dozen of them) sitting outside the hall in preparation to play at state solo and ensemble.

It was a good year full of learning and involvement for Miriam. She flourished in high school bands, and it was obvious how much she had grown throughout the year.

Ana's senior year of choir

Ana made the most of her one year of high school choir. First of all, it's amazing that she made the top choir with no previous school choir experience. Second, she made the all-state choir. Third, she sang with the jazz band. And lastly, she earned a part in the school musical. 

Saturday, February 1: All-State Choir

Ana spent the better part of a week going to Lewiston with the other BHS all-state band/choir kids to rehearse and then perform. Seth and I made the trek to the panhandle to enjoy the concert. Lewiston was lovely, but we learned firsthand that it's also quite smelly. 

Ana smiles from her place at the top of the risers in the all-women's choir.

Singing with the whole group.

Post-concert selfie.

Saturday, February 15: Choir dinner show/fundraiser

In order to help pay her way on the choir tour (they went to Utah to tour colleges, have rehearsals with college music professors and see stage musicals), Ana helped by providing entertainment and serving tables at the choir's annual spaghetti dinner and show. 

Singing "Let It Be" (a gorgeous soprano-alto duet) with our neighbor, Addy.

Singing with her octet.

Singing her solo: "Almost There" from The Princess and the Frog. 

Singing with the entire Bonnevaires choir.

Monday, April 14: Band dinner show/fundraiser

When the jazz band was looking for a vocalist, Miriam was sure to let Ana know. And after Mr. Bull never really got around to holding vocalist auditions, he just decided that Miriam's sister could have it. So Ana got to perform a couple of songs with the jazz band at their dinner show/fundraiser.

Ana singing with Miriam playing vibraphone in the background.

Ana singing in the commons with the jazz band.

A pooped Ana lies out on the floor of the commons after the dinner show.

Wednesday, April 30: Jazz band concert

And then Ana got to perform in the much more photogenic Little Theater during the jazz band's final school concert.

Ana on stage.

Singing. She sang "Almost There" (the same solo she had for the Bonnevaires dinner show) and "Feelin' Good."

May 12-17: Lucky Stiff

The drama/music department put on a musical that NOBODY had ever heard of, but it turned out to be a lot of fun. Ana's part was "spinster," which was funny, but she sang/spoke in her cockney accent so well and enjoyed participating in a bunch of other ensemble roles. 

I shot pictures at a dress rehearsal and then during one of the shows.

Ana's spinster. She got a hat added to her costume for the actual show.

All the boarders.

Among the people in Monte Carlo. 

As a showgirl.

Back to spinster (this time with a hat).

"Girl with a Pearl Earring" during the sightseeing stretch of the show.

Family selfie after closing night.

Thursday, May 22: Final choir concert

Ana had her final choir concert at the end of the school year and received a medal for her involvement in choir and the musical.

Ana (wearing her medal) talking to Grandma Susan and Dad after her concert at the Hillcrest Performing Arts Center.

Winnie's 7th grade band

Winnie finished out her 7th grade year playing baritone.

Thursday, January 23: BYU-I middle school honor band

Winnie got to participate in this director-nominated honor band. She was the only 7th grader from Rocky Mountain who went. She spent the day rehearsing, then we joined her in Rexburg for the concert that evening. 

Playing baritone in the Barrus Concert Hall.

 

Meeting with/talking to Grandma Hendricks, Grandma Susan, Seth and Grandpa Dennis afterward. (Grandma and Grandpa Scott also came.)

Tuesday, February 25: School concert

Winnie hauls her baritone off the stage following concert band's numbers. 

Thursday, May 22: School concert

Apparently I didn't take any pictures at this one, but Winnie also played in another school concert right before the end of the year.

Miriam's freshman ballroom

Some of our previous posts touched on Miriam's ballroom performances in her first year of high school. This post will document all the rest.

Friday, January 10: Basketball halftime

Miriam dances their rock medley with Dallin.

Saturday, January 18: Eastern Idaho Ballroom Show

Every year the BHS ballroom team hosts this show at the Civic Auditorium. 

Dancing "Pictures of Mountains" with a cell phone (which was actually just a case).

Dancing the rock medley. This girl has the best ballroom performance faces. 

Thursday, March 26-Friday, March 27: Gem State

This year Bonneville hosted this big even held during spring break every year. (Just in case the disgruntledness isn't coming through, I'm a little salty about having to give up part of our spring break for this comp.) Day one had all of Miriam's syllabus events; day two had all of the team events.

Miriam (and Aiden) got 1st place in Junior Bronze B samba and (and Dallin) got 6th place in Junior Bronze A international waltz. The team got 1st place in youth rhythm/Latin, division 3 small with their rock medley; 1st in youth rhythm/Latin, novice with "Baiana;" 1st in youth smooth/standard, novice for "Pictures of Mountains;" and 2nd in youth novelty/division 3 for "Charleston Green Hill."

Miriam's hair (I tried for so long to do a different style, but I just couldn't get it to work, so Miriam graciously chose something else that I could handle) and makeup (done by Ana).

Group high five with other BHS ballroom members.

Dancing with Makio.

Getting pictures taken with Aiden for their first place in samba.

Dancing the Charleston during the team events on her birthday. 

Monday, May 19: End of year show

This was a bittersweet even because Miriam had chosen not to try out for the following year's team. She loves dancing, but being all-in for both band and ballroom proved to be a lot. She chose to focus on band and academics in her 2025-2026 school year.

It was still a delight seeing her on the stage. She's a talented, graceful dancer and draws all the viewers in with her energy and facial expressions.

Rock medley with Dallin.

Charleston with Connor.

"Pictures of Mountains."

"Feels This Good" with Connor.

"Baiana."

"Pitch Perfect."

Finale that honors the seniors (this year there was only 1: Dallin) and featuring all of the dancers in all age groups.

Miriam holding up her hands to have her "Spirit of Ballroom" sweatshirt tossed to her. She won the award two years in a row.

It's time to catch up

Holiest of cows. I've gotten behind on blogging before, but never THIS far behind.

So rather than taking everything on as chronologically as I have in the past, these next several posts will be more categorical. But we'll get there.