Mid-Prairie Students get experience with Youth Honor Band

On Saturday, Feb. 16, three students from the Mid-Prairie middle school participated in the 9th annual Young Musicians Honor Band, hosted by Prairie Creek Intermediate College Community School District. The students were Rowan Miller on tenor saxophone in the black band (for first-year students) conducted by Beth Davies, and Aliza Parks on clarinet and Landry Gingerich on trumpet in the orange band (for second-year students) conducted by Dan Norman.

The black band's program was: 'Champions” by Gary Gazlay; 'Autumn Fanfare” by Mekel Rogers; 'Voyage of the Dragon Armada” by Timothy Loest; and 'Funny Bones” by Story & Smith.

The orange band's program was: 'Clouds” by Anne McGinty; 'Paso Flamenco” by Victor Lopez; 'Distant Castle” by James Swearingen; and 'Excelcia” by Larry Clark.

Rowan: 'Once we got going with our day we started by rehearsing with our instrument group. Then we got in with the big group and practiced. That's when I made a new friend Drew. We pretty much hung around with each other when we weren't playing. Once we were done practicing we got medals and had our concert. That was my favorite part of the day, the concert.”

Aliza: 'My experience at the Young Musicians Honor Band was amazing. I was very tired after, though. I woke up at 6 a.m. and did not get home until 8 p.m. Other than that it was very fun. I got to play my instrument all day and met new people. The band director, Mr. Norman was funny and nice. I really hope to get to go next year.”

Landry: 'Honor band for me was a really cool experience. It was fun because of the band directors and the music we played. It was also very fun because of the people I met there. It was really cool to go this year and I would love to go again next year.”