Band students selected to honor bands
Several Pea Ridge Middle School and High School band students were selected to various region honor bands this year. Garrett Lang, ninth grade, was selected to the Jr. High Region VI Honor Jazz Band after auditioning on Nov. 8 in Green Forest. Lang then participated in a two-day clinic with the jazz band at Washington Jr. High School the following weekend culminating with a performance on Saturday, Nov. 15. He earned first chair in the band on Baritone Saxophone.
Lang and Cailey Bowie, eighth-grade, were both selected to the Jr. High Region VI Honor Bands Dec. 6. Seventh-grade through ninth-grade students from the region auditioned at Washington Jr. High in Bentonville for the op- portunity to be selected to one of two bands. Lang was once again the first chair in the top band on Baritone Saxophone; Bowie was selected to the second band in the Clarinet section. Both Lang and Bowie spent two days with a guest clinician in their respective bands with students from Bentonville, Rogers, Mountain Home, Harrison, Gentry, Berryville as well as several other schools. The two-day clinic was held at Rogers High School the following weekend with a concert by both bands on Saturday, Dec. 13.
Several high school band students auditioned for the Sr. High Region Honor Bands on Jan. 10. The auditions took place at Pinkston Middle School in Mountain Home. The students once again competed for spots in one of two bands formed by the region. The following students were all selected to the second band: Devon Giertz, 10th grade, euphonium; Zach Bowie, 11th grade, tuba; Jacob Boyle, 10th grade, tuba; Dominique Burwell, 10th grade, flute; Alex Williams, 11th grade, percussion; and Rett Watson, 10th grade, percussion. Each of these students participated in the two-day clinic the following weekend at Bentonville High School and performed a concert Saturday, Jan. 17.
In February, high school band students auditioned for the Arkansas Small Band Association All-Star Band at Riverview High School in Searcy. This honor band includes students from bands that are 3A or smaller from the entire state. Pea Ridge students selected to the band were Rett Watson, percussion; Kallie Koon, 11th grade, trumpet; Alan Sicairos, 11th grade, trombone; and Sandra Gonzalez, 12th grade, flute. These students will participate in a two-day clinic in Pangburn April 3-4, ending with a concert on Saturday, April 4.
The middle school and high school bands have had a very successful winter with these students auditioning and being selected to various honor bands. Being a member of these bands greatly increases the opportunity for college scholarships, according to band director Monty Hill.
The top individual honor a band student can achieve is being selected to the All State Honor Band, which is a goal that directors Monty Hill and Matt McCool have set for Pea Ridge Band students who excel in music.