The Richard Powers Music Student Award

The Puyallup Valley Community Band (PVCB), directed by Tristan Roush, is an all-volunteer wind band supported by the community. The band’s student award was established in 2009 to recognize exceptional high school musicians (woodwind, brass, or percussion). In 2024, the PVCB Board announced that this award would be named the Richard Powers Music Student Award in honor of Richard Powers, a long-time conductor of the Band.

The 2025 recipient will receive a cash award of $1,000 and the opportunity to perform as a featured soloist with the PVCB during our May 9, 2025 concert.

The award is open to current high school juniors or seniors residing within the Orting, Puyallup, or Sumner-Bonney Lake districts or within the boundaries of Graham-Kapowsin High School. Applications must be received by midnight on January 31, 2025.

Applicants will be contacted to audition for the award. The auditions will be conducted during February. Details as to date, time, and location will be provided.

The audition requirement is the performance of a single movement (not to exceed 12 minutes) of the applicant’s own choosing before a committee appointed by the PVCB Board of Directors.

At the audition, the applicant will be responsible for any piano accompaniment.

The PVCB conductor will review and approve the solo to be performed with the band. The solo must be part of a band arrangement that is readily available. The award recipient must participate in at least the three rehearsals before the May 9 concert; exceptions may be discussed with the director in advance.

The monetary award will be presented at the concert.

Rehearsals for the May 9 concert are on the following dates:
April 8 (7pm – 9pm)
April 15 (7:45pm – 9:15pm)
April 22 (7pm – 9pm)
April 29 (7pm – 9pm)
May 6 (7pm – 9pm) – dress rehearsal mandatory attendance

Rehearsals and the May concert are held at St. Andrew Catholic Church, North Hall, 1401 Valley Ave.,
Sumner WA.

Questions? Email any questions to director@puyallupvalleycommunityband.org

Past Music Award Recipients/Soloists

Year*	Award**	Name	School	Instrument
2020	Lovezzola	Meaghan Austin	Rogers HS	Clarinet
2020	Richards	Reina Geforos	Graham-Kapowsin HS	Tenor Saxophone
2019	Lovezzola	Kaitlynn Adkins	Rogers HS	Flute
2018	Lovezzola	Jennifer Rhee	Puyallup HS	Flute
2017	Lovezzola	Mikaela Rink	Emerald Ridge HS	Clarinet
2016	Lovezzola	Katriel Looney	Puyallup HS	Clarinet
2015	Lovezzola	Andrew Rink	Emerald Ridge HS	Tuba
2014	Lovezzola	Mariah Katzberg	Puyallup HS	Saxophone
2013	Lovezzola	Samantha Grover	Graham-Kapowsin HS	Trombone
2012	PVCB	Chase Nicholson	Rogers HS	Saxophone

* Awards not given in 2021-24 due to disruptions caused by the Covid pandemic.

** Award amounts are funded through the generosity of concert audiences and family legacy donors of Dr. Michael Lovezzola (2013) and Fred Richards (2020), both former members of PVCB.