This year the arts have taken huge steps towards success in our Roosevelt community. These great feats come from our own band, choir, and theatre departments.
The hard work of the theatre department does not go unnoticed. With the fantastic show of Mean Girls The Musical, selling out the main stage theatre for the first time ever! This is also a huge feat since the musical had the most presales since pre-pandemic as well as the most people in attendance. It does not end there with many folks participating in theatre competing in state, and qualifying for the International Thespian Festival with the option of going to Nationals.
Not only do our thespians benefit their theatre program, they also support our local community. This year, working with the Schnitzer Cares Foundation, this local program focuses on empowering kids to participate in community service, by partnering with schools across Oregon to raise and donate to a non-profit organization of their choice. This year the advanced and senior theatre classes combined have raised $1705.79 dollars this year. Being the largest amount ever raised and returned, this will be matched by the Schnitzer Cares Foundation 10:1, this will be donated to The Heidi
Duckler Dance Theatre and EngAGE NW.
The pride that theatre teacher Jo Lane has for her students is unmatched. As her senior class begins their work on the senior shorts, creating what Ms. Lane says is their “final senior portfolio for the theatre department.”
Creating a positive environment, Lane created the tradition of senior shorts when she first arrived at Roosevelt in 2008. At the time working with other theatre companies, later shifted to more independent work for the seniors taking charge, without the help of the companies and provided mentors. With the 14 seniors who took part in writing and directing shorts this year, the 12 productions sold out the venue.
Being one of the most favorite times of the year, Lane comments, “Its exciting but bittersweet.”
While emotions run high, the seniors’ skill level runs deep. Having to cast, direct, and design a 10 minute act to showcase their knowledge in theatre as they bow out of the Roosevelt theatre program for the last time. With these milestones accomplished, and the amount of work the theatre teacher Ms. Lane has put into the program she has rightfully earned being one of Oregon’s Regional Teachers of the Year, taking big steps for the bright future of the creative spirits within Roosevelt.
Overall with a positive outlook on this year’s triumphs, This year alone our band has won first place at the PIL Jazz Competition for the first time in Roosevelt history. They went on to sweep the competition at the West Salem Jazz Festival with the intermediate, combo, and advanced bands all receiving first place in their respective categories. These events have had a huge impact on the program, following the automatic qualification for state. With an extremely supportive sendoff, winning second place.
Roosevelt’s band director, Jason Margolis makes it clear that he’s “trying to really lift our wind ensemble game” after seeing the great work of the bands at West Salem and the PIL festival.
These goals guided them to win second in the Clark Jazz Festival in Washington, a competitive festival including many jazz bands out of state. A huge step for our program, they later returned to Seattle to compete in the Bellevue Jazz Festival on May second, receiving second place.
“We’re really dipping our toes in the Washington water this year,” Margolis says.
Excited about playing with schools they have looked up to for a long time, this showcases the growth of all of the bands as a whole, and Margolis has taken note, with even more opportunities for future wins this April of 2026.
“I think we have really talented kids coming in now and it’s a really good sign for the future.”
Under the guidance of first year teacher, Joshua Narrow, the Choir team competed in the District PIL Choir festival with 18 students – against teams of more than 50 people. Although outnumbered, they stood out.
“The common review that we got was that we were small but mighty, ̈says Mx. Narrow. Furthermore with judges saying the Roosevelt Choir group was “up to par” with the larger choirs regarding sound and volume.
Not only does this highlight their success, but also the group’s growth. Improving the choirs sound to be ̈fuller and more blended ̈. Using these assessments to persevere through the end of the year, the group has an amazing ability to work together and a real sense of togetherness.
̈That’s the biggest thing I feel is the accomplishment, is creating that community ̈ says
Narrow.
Using this drive for their performance, “Lead With Love”, Narrow says they were inspired by their students that participated in the National ICE protests in January. When Narrow noted less than ten people showed up to class that day, they saw first hand how politically engaged the students were.
̈I just really wanted to let the students engage with their political voices. ̈
With a focus on protest music, this event was held at Roosevelt on May 19th. With the goal in mind they have been working hard to display a vocal form of representation. As they work towards this goal, Narrow is simultaneously working towards another, putting in their best efforts to create a full time choir program here at Roosevelt. Not only that, they hope to rebuild the choir program at George Middle School to create a feeder program for Roosevelt, in order
to build skill and development earlier.
This 2025-2026 school year, the Roosevelt performing arts programs have outdone themselves. While many seniors are set to graduate on this high note, feeling proud should be an understatement of their accomplishments. These opportunities through the arts have set them up for success and an even brighter future.
This leaves several openings for new students to join these programs. Lane, Margolis, and Narrow are eager to see new talent in the time to come.
Beginning classes are offered through these programs, Although for more advanced students interested in band, there is a wider variety including the Top Wind Symphony and Jazz Band which are “audition only.” The opportunity to try something new is always a possibility at Roosevelt.
