Bigfork musicians hit all the notes at district festival
HILARY MATHESON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 months AGO
EDUCATION REPORTER Hilary Matheson covers education for the Daily Inter Lake. Her reporting focuses on schools, students, and the policies that shape public education across Northwest Montana. Matheson regularly reports on school boards, district decisions and issues affecting teachers and families. Her work examines how funding, enrollment and state policy influence local school systems. She helps readers understand how education decisions affect students and communities throughout the region. IMPACT: Hilary’s work provides transparency and insight into the schools that serve thousands of local families. | April 29, 2026 12:00 AM
Northwest Montana’s students didn’t miss a beat at the District Music Festival hosted by Flathead and Glacier high schools.
Bands, orchestras and choirs from high schools in Flathead, Lincoln and Lake counties participated in the festival held earlier this month.
Entries were judged as either superior, excellent, good, fair, or poor on a 1 to 5 scale.
Following are area results provided by schools.
Bigfork High School
Band
Superior performance and sight-reading: Concert band
Superior solos: Audrey Corder, flute; Graham Munson, trombone; Noah Hamilton-Dixon, bassoon and Jennifer Whitney, French horn.
Superior ensembles: Jazz band and percussion ensemble.
Choir
Superior solos: Micah Butler, Olivia Close, Amelia Gibson, Scotta Rudolph and Ayla Wermer.
Excellent solos: Jacob Baldi, Natasha Tungwenuk, Bristal Wallin, Jennifer Whitney and Rylee Wood.
Superior ensembles: Concert choir (Jacob Baldi, Micah Butler, Tatum Butler, Olivia Close, Amelia Gibson, Kellie Michnal, Scotta Rudolph, Natasha Tungwenuk, Bristal Wallin, Ayla Wermer, Kenley Wheeler, Jennifer Whitney, Halle Williamson, Rylee Wood and Kayden Woodward).
ARTICLES BY HILARY MATHESON
The art of self-defense — Apex Fitness and Martial arts offers jiujitsu to all ages and abilities
At Apex Fitness and Martial Arts in Evergreen, a class of young Brazilian jiujitsu students seated in a row waiting their turn to spar, or "rolling," with a classmate under the watchful eye of professor Rogério Marshall, a sixth-degree black belt from Brazil who came to Montana to teach the martial art.
Kalispell Public Schools to appeal verdict in Glacier High School hazing lawsuit
The Kalispell Public Schools board of trustees voted Friday to appeal a federal jury’s unanimous verdict finding that the school district retaliated against Kirk and Clifford Nance after they reported alleged sexual assault, harassment and hazing in the Glacier High School wrestling program.
Kalispell school trustees approve pay raises, contract renewals for nonunion school staff
The Kalispell Public Schools board of trustees has approved pay raises and contract renewals for nonunion district employees, from the superintendent to bus drivers.