Thomas County Central High School has more representatives named to District Honor Band than any local school and more students recommended to state auditions than any school in its congressional district this year.
All District Honor Band auditions were Dec. 13, 2014, at Crisp County High School and names were recently released. TCCHS band officials said, of the 180 students selected for placement, 43 were from TCCHS.
“We had a great response from our TCCHS musicians,” TCCHS Bands Director C. Michial Mayhall, who thanked parents and administrators for their support with DHB, said. “They performed with excellence and represented our school system with pride and dignity.”
More than 500 students registered to compete in order to earn spots in either the concert or symphonic district bands. Seventeen high schools were represented from throughout the congressional district: Cairo, Thomasville High, Colquitt, Brooks, Tifton, Pelham, Monroe, Miller County, Early County, Crisp County, Westover, Lee County, Dougherty County, Deerfield Winsor and Turner.
Concert band is for ninth and 10th graders; symphonic band is for 11th and 12th graders.
“District Honor Band is a great honor and opportunity to play with and learn from other musicians from around the region, giving me the chance to significantly grow in my musical abilities,” said DHB nominee Kennedy Ward.
All District Concert Band members are: (flute) C’Lee Kornegay, Madison Everett; (clarinet) Zarah Varney, Kennedy Ward; (French horn) Lillie Horton (first chair), Kendra Anderson, Loren Osgatharp, Marion Rose Young; (trumpet) Eli Kosciw, Sierra Stephens, Maria Davis, Vince Wynn; (trombone) Chandler Watson (first chair), Logan Leik, Gabriel Neives; (baritone) Conner McCardel; (tuba) Drucilla Thomas, William Redfearn.
All District Symphonic Band members are: (flute) Jessi Hopland (first chair), Amber Atkinson, Lindsy Thompson, Anne Marie Holland; (clarinet) Shanika Davis, Laura Hopper, Laken Rutland, Elizabeth Smith; (bassoon) Bailey Slaughter (first chair); (contra clarinet) Ashton Whaley; (alto sax) Sarah Buckley, Chelcie Nix; (French horn) Kara Haskins; (trumpets) Lorna Medellin, Elizabeth Alford, Jimmy Johnson, Drake Johnson; (trombones) Charles Maggitas (first chair), Cross Bryant, Joseph Little, Camille Sowell, Kaleb Goss; (baritone) Trey Benton, Seth Daughtry; (percussion) Justin Barfield.
“Placing first chair at District Honor Band makes me feel immensely proud of both myself and my band,” senior Charles Maggitas said. “Making music with others is such a great experience that I can carry with me throughout my life.”
Also, 23 students were recommended to the All-State level and two placed in the All District Jazz Ensemble: Charles Maggitas and Cross Bryant for the trombone. All South Band members also were selected from TCCHS.
All South Concert Band members are: (trumpet) Eli Kosciw, Sierra Stephens; (French horn) Lillie Horton, Kendra Anderson; (trombone) Logan Leik, Chandler Watson; (tuba) Drucilla Thomas, William Redfearn.
All South Symphonic Band members are: (flute) Jessi Hopland, Amber Atkinson; (bassoon) Bailey Slaughter; (clarinet) Shanika Davis, Laura Hopper, Laken Rutland.
All State and All South nominee Sierra Stephens said she “was ecstatic” to learn she’d made it to the next round of auditions (All State).
“I was a little nervous, though, at being the only freshman from the school,” she said. “To prepare, I have to learn an entirely new etude, and plan to practice as much as I can, and get help from my instructors.”
Many of the students selected from TCCHS have previously participated.
Eli Kosciw, a sophomore trumpet player, remarked that DHB is “something you can work hard for” and said “hard work pays off in the end.”
Amber Atkinson, a senior flute player, said she had “a great experience getting to play with people from many different schools.”
The District Honor Band and Jazz band will perform at Norman Park Baptist Assembly in February and the All South Band will perform at Valdosta State University in April.
“District Honor Band is the one thing you can look forward to after marching band season,” Drucilla Thomas, a sophomore tuba player, said. “You get to perform with some of the best players around…. It’s definitely an experience that you will never forget.”