All students deserve to perform at events

A Feb. 6 article in the Daily Bee stated, “Sandpoint High School is very lucky to have such a talented musical director as Jon Brownell, who always sees that his students have the ability and opportunity to perform in various areas.”

I am a senior at SHS and a former member of the men's choir. It has been my experience that he denies the ability and opportunity to perform to the majority of his students. He singles out his children, favorite students and even places himself in positions to perform while the rest of his talented students are left out. He subdivided the men's choir and created an elite men's quartet with his son and three favorite students. He now only gives these boys special opportunities and leaves behind the majority of the talented men's choir.

He solicits invitations for the girls to perform at competitions such as the Heritage Festival in Pearl Harbor, but makes no attempts for the men's and concert choir.

I recently attended the All State Honor Choir in Pocatello along with several other talented students from all of Mr. Brownell's choirs. These deserving students had to audition for the Honor Choir and have obviously proven themselves, but sadly will not be given the opportunity to perform in special concerts or trips.

Before you spend your hard-earned money to support these select few students to go to Hawaii, consider the many students who have earned the right, deserve the right and are unfairly being denied the opportunity to perform.

BEN MYERS

Sandpoint