Nearly 900 individual nominations from across six states were received by organizers of the 2019 Ohio State University Middle School Honor Band Festival. From that pool, 366 students were selected for participation, including nine pupils from Westerville middle schools.
Blendon participants are Raul Diaz-Galdamez (7), clarinet; and Caleb Piatt (8), baritone. Gloria Rogers, clarinet; DeAndre Rogers, trumpet; and Tomas Hastings, tenor saxophone, were picked as alternates to the Eighth Grade Honor Band. Rylee Jennings, flute; Katherine Jenkins, percussion; and Fletcher Fox, trumpet; are alternates to the Seventh Grade Honor Band. Blendon Middle School’s Director of Bands is Amy Levine.
Genoa participants are Isaac Leigh (7), clarinet; Rosalie Heath (8), trumpet; and Nicole Rogers (8), bass clarinet. Andrew Hissong, trumpet; Avery Sanislo, alto saxophone; and Alexa Ryan, trumpet; were selected as alternates to the Seventh Grade Honor Band. Imani Munene, bassoon; and Ben Yasnowski, alto saxophone were chosen as alternates to the Eighth Grade Honor Band. Genoa Middle School’s Director of Bands is Kristy Shaffer-May.
Heritage participants are Alison Reynolds (8), oboe; Andrew Fyock (7), clarinet;
Bekah Pyle (7), tuba; and Sammy Gurgiolo (7), trumpet. Peyton Cunningham, trumpet; Miles McGann, percussion; and Jeffrey Siefker, trombone, were selected as alternates to the Eighth Grade Honor Band. Addison Varney, flute, was named alternate to the Seventh Grade Honor Band. Heritage Middle School’s Director of Bands is Chris Kuhn.
A free public performance will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, in the Mershon Auditorium on the campus of The Ohio State University. Both 8th grade honor bands will present the world premiere of a brand new composition by festival guest conductor/composer Larry Clark.