On April 22, juniors Maya Conklin and Aubrey Woods placed top five in a solo singing competition at the University of Idaho’s Annual 2023 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. They competed against soloists from all across the Pacific Northwest and Western Canadian area. The high-school students paid to get their solos adjudicated. Conklin sang Fever by Peggy Lee and Woods sang Orange Colored Sky by Nat King Cole. Woods and Conklin got the opportunity to perform their solos on the main stage in the University of Idaho Kibbie Dome after placing with their solos.
Conklin told the Bengals Purr “It was such a cool opportunity because I’ve never sang for that many people before and at a jazz fest, there are a lot of people.”
“It was very surprising to be chosen to sing… It was just a really cool experience to get that performance experience!”
Conklin first started singing with her mom as a child. “My mother and I sing together, so I have just been singing as long as I can remember.”
Woods told the purr “ It was really incredible to perform on stage… these kinds of events truly remind me why I love music so much. The feeling of being surrounded by people who share the same passion as me isn’t something that I experience a lot, but when I do I almost feel at home.”
Woods finished out by saying “I couldn’t have asked for a better friend to represent LHS’s music program with. Maya is Incredible.”