Thurmond Russell, 16 years old of Orcas Island, received one of two Honorable Mentions in the Senior Division of the Washington State Music Teachers Association 2024-2025 composition competition.

His composition for solo piano, sarabande, is styled after the Baroque-era court dance of the same name but with Romantic-era flair. Thurmond’s focus is currently on the completion of a dance suite, of which the sarabande is the first completed piece, as well as the composition of sacred music.

He hopes to complete and premiere several works in 2025.