Band students from Rockingham County and Harrisonburg City high schools auditioned for the All-City/County Honor Band on Monday, November 18. Harrisonburg High School students grabbed the most spots in this ensemble out of any other high school participating. Students selected to attend this ensemble, rehearse with the group and a guest conductor for a full two days, and perform a full concert on the second day. For many students, this is an opportunity to play with a new ensemble and learn new things.
“The thing I love most about All-City/County Honor Band is that you get to play with people you usually don’t get to play with and music that you don’t usually play in your home ensemble,” said junior Carlos Lopez who earned seventh chair on B flat clarinet.
Besides playing music and performing, this is a time for kids to get to know one another from different schools. A lot of members build friendships over the years through this event and ones like it.
“I’m looking forward to seeing all my friends from different schools and getting to play cool music with them,” Lopez said.
The separation into two high schools reduced the number of kids in band at HHS. Even with around half the kids from past years, HHS filled the most seats in this ensemble. On top of that, the largest number of students were accepted from HHS in recent years.
“I’m super happy with our band getting the most slots. It’s really nice being a part of a band program that can achieve that,” said senior Eliza Malcolm who made fourth chair percussion.
The following HHS students were accepted into the All-City/County Honor Band:
Juan Rivera Santos, 6th chair Flute, 9th grade
Jireh Perez, 1st chair Bassoon, 11th grade
Boris Dmytriyev, 3rd chair Bb Clarinet, 10th grade
Carlos Lopez, 7th chair Bb Clarinet, 11th grade
Arez Koyee, 8th chair Bb Clarinet, 9th grade
Stewart Johnson, 12th chair Bb Clarinet, 9th grade
Hayden Knight, 2nd chair Bass Clarinet, 9th grade
Ainur Shiganakov, 1st chair Contra-Alto Clarinet, 11th grade
Mateo Starling, 1st chair Tenor Saxophone, 9th grade
Abby Bloss, 5th chair Trumpet, 11th grade
Maurice Naranjo Brito, 6th chair Trumpet, 12th grade
Nayeli Vazquez, 7th chair Trumpet, 10th grade
Chloe Starling, 1st chair French Horn, 12th grade
Helene Stafford, 4th chair French Horn, 9th grade
Annaliese Rhodes, 5th chair French Horn, 9th grade
Gram Vass, 3rd chair Trombone, 12th grade
Jared Mayfield, 5th chair Trombone, 9th grade
Chloe Starling, 2nd chair Euphonium (deferred), 12th grade
Dominic Rodriguez, 2nd chair Euphonium, 12th grade
Elliot Rhodes, 3rd chair Euphonium, 12th grade
Anthony Cabrera Espinoza, 4th chair Euphonium, 11th grade
Lucas Swartz, 1st chair Tuba, 12th grade
Ben Nguyen, 3rd chair Tuba, 9th grade
Eliza Malcolm, 4th Chair Percussion, 12th grade
Gram Vass, 5th Chair Percussion (deferred), 12th grade
Francisco Ruiz, 5th Chair Percussion, 12th grade
Billy Perritt, 6th Chair Percussion, 11th grade
Elsie Corriston, 7th Chair Percussion, 11th grade