Special thanks to the Editors, David Jasper (Features, Fine Arts and Outings Reporter), and Rob Kerr (Photographer) at the Bend Bulletin for featuring CROCK is the Saturday paper today. For the full-length article you can read it here. The following are some highlights:

[Photo] Cascades Rock Ensemble’s Team Bachelor ensemble: Singer Judi Kelley, 15, sings with Laz Glickman on keyboard, Damon George on guitar and Christian George on bass during a rehearsal.

[Excerpt] Along with playing in the ensemble, students in the program pursue regular private lessons to better learn their instruments and study “the language of music.” … George says, “Alone-time practice is not what gets your kids over the hump musically. While it is absolutely imperative they do work on technicals, it’s working with others and breathing the music they like that makes it click.”

[Photo] Drummer Steven George, 8, and his guitarist brother Damon, 15, work on timing with the help of coach Georges Bouhey during a rehearsal Monday.

[Excerpt] Their music teacher, Georges Bouhey, patiently stopped them mid-song to help the backup singers work out the highs and lows of harmonizing on their background chant — “after midnight, after midnight” — behind lead singer Judi Kelley, 15. A moment later, they launched back into the song sounding as polished as any working band.

[Photo] Laz Glickman and Damon George rehearse on Monday. CROCK ensembles rehearse 90 minutes each week.

[Excerpt] “It’s really about accelerated performance training,” George says. “If you watch those shows on TV — I don’t know if you agree with ‘American Idol’ or not — the ones who are winning are the ones who have been training. They’re like the downhill skier that makes the Olympic team. They didn’t just walk up there one day and go, ‘I bought a pair of skis the other day, and now I want to race.’ There are some of those (prodigies), but you know, they’re not our kids.”

— Reporter: 541-383-0349, djasper@bendbulletin.com