First elementary honor band held

It was a homecoming of sorts for many at the first SEIBA Elementary Honor Band which will be held annually. SEIBA (South East Iowa Bandmasters Association) held its first district-wide honor band for first- and second-year players on Saturday, April 25, at Washington High School.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Washington was home to the SEIBA District Honor Band for Junior High and High School. Saturday, SEIBA came back to Washington to celebrate this inaugural event by featuring one of Washington's own as a guest clinician and soloist with the band. Gary McCurdy (aka The Tubadour), who used to host the junior high and high school event as a director, was not only the featured soloist, but wrote an arrangement of "When the Saints Go Marching in" for the band and wrote another arrangement especially for the tubas and euphoniums to play. In addition, McCurdy gave the audience two solo performances from his Tubadour performance library, which included "The Battle of Jericho" and "What a Wonderful World".

Also coming home was the director of the honor band, Mrs. Dorothy Jacobi, who team teaches at Center Point-Urbana with her husband Dan Jacobi. Mrs. Jacobi taught for nine years in the Solon Community School District which is part of the SEIBA district.

Five Washington sixth-graders were selected to this honor band including: Cooper Reed, tuba; Anna Venenga, trumpet; Chloe McGuire, Flute; Hunter Rarick, Clarinet; and Cameron Westphal, percussion.

Washington band directors Don Hughes and Craig McClenahan found themselves in a familiar place once again as the event marked the 3rd major music event hosted by Washington CSD this school year. Washington also hosted All-State tryouts in the fall and Solo/Ensemble Contest March 28.

Washington director McClenahan commented, "Directors, students and parents from visiting schools have been complimenting us at all 3 events on our fine facilities at the high school. Without the new facilities, we would not be hosting these events."