On February 8-9, twenty-five students from Thomas County Middle School participated in the GMEA District 2 Honor Band Clinic. These students competed with hundreds of other students from around the Southwest District for chairs in this prestigious band. TCMS had the highest number of students participating in District Honor Band (DHB) out of the 15 middle schools participating this year. The clinic was held at ABAC in Tifton, GA. The Middle School Honor Band was led this year by Dr. Joshua Boyd, Director of Bands at Point University in West Point, GA. Over the course of a day and a half, these students rehearsed music which was performed for family and friends on February 9.

Of those TCMS students who made DHB this year, 3 students earned the distinction of first chair. Those students included Caleb Kinneer on french horn, Mason Powell on bass clarinet, and Shelby Bryant on tenor sax.

“We are very proud of our students for earning a place in this year’s District Honor Band. A lot of hard work went into preparing for the audition. This year we had 90 students, including 30 sixth graders audition for DHB. We are proud of all who auditioned and super excited about the future of our band program,” stated William Majors, TCMS Band Director.

Pictured below in the front row from left to right is T.C. Cone (trumpet), Jack Emmett (trumpet), Hannabelle Fulgencio (clarinet), Shelby Bryant (tenor sax), Mason Powell (bass clarinet), Phoebe Esra (flute), Morgan Loper (clarinet), Brooke Lancaster (clarinet), and Janaye Bell (flute). On the second row is Jazmyn Barber (flute), Alyssa Bradshaw (clarinet), Jenna Coaker (trombone), Tessa Thomas (percussion), Sommer Cromer (clarinet), Alicia Sholar (clarinet), Savana Manning (flute), Madison Dickerson (clarinet), and Jordan Coaker (flute). On the back row is Madelyn Anderson (trombone), Rebekah Horton (French horn), Ryan Swearingen (tuba), Tyler Laidman (trombone), Leigha Hunt (clarinet), Mallory Bustle (alto sax), and Caleb Kinneer (French horn).