Organizers of the 2017 Ohio State University Middle School Honor Band Festival received nearly 900 individual nominations from across three states. Of the 362 students selected for participation, 12 are from Westerville middle schools. The Festival will take place at Mershon Auditorium on Saturday, February 25.
Blendon participants are Andrew Jenkins (8), baritone; and Lucas Cada (7), baritone.
Nathaniel Whittaker, trumpet; Ben Anglin, tenor saxophone; and Aidan Mukavetz, baritone saxophone, were selected as alternates to the Eighth-Grade Honor Band. Olivia Goff, oboe; Elyssa Riehle, clarinet; and Emily Bartholomew, percussion, were selected as alternates to the Seventh-Grade Honor Band. The Director of Bands at Blendon Middle School is Amy Levine.
Genoa participants are Gabriana Steele (8), flute; and Marc Beauchamp (7), trumpet.
Abbie Legget, trumpet; and Noah Leigh, tenor saxophone, were selected as alternates to the Eighth-Grade Honor Band. Teagan Cochern, percussion; Brianna Hickok, flute; and Grace Vance, alto saxophone, were selected as alternates to the Seventh-Grade Honor Band. The Director of Bands at Genoa Middle School is Kristy Shaffer-May.
Heritage participants are Megan Longwell (8), flute; Emma Tombaugh (8), clarinet;
Lydia Fyock (7), oboe; Natalie Kloos (7), French horn; and Colleen Morrison (7), flute.
Alia O’Brien, flute; and Izabella Stepanian, oboe, were selected as alternates to the
Eighth-Grade Honor Band. Sam Weaver, French horn, was selected as an alternate to the Seventh-Grade Honor Band. The Director of Bands at Heritage Middle School is Chris Kuhn.
Walnut Springs participants are Richard Kelly (8), percussion; Kayla Arens (7), clarinet; and Spencer Tamburello (7), trombone.
Rachel Couchot, clarinet; Daniel Hager, trumpet; and Ricky Owings, trumpet, were selected as alternates for the Eighth-Grade Honor Band. Marcel Harris, saxophone; and Sheri Nguyen, percussion, were selected as alternates for the Seventh-Grade Honor Band. The Director of Bands at Walnut Springs Middle School is Nick Pelfrey.
The 2017 Festival will feature four honor bands – the 7th Grade Scarlet Honor Band, conducted by Diana Wightman; the 7th Grade Gray Honor Band, conducted by Daryl Kinney; the 8th Grade Scarlet Honor Band, conducted by Phil Day; and the 8th Grade Gray Honor Band, conducted by David Hedgecoth. Featured guest composer/conductor is Andrew Boysen, Jr. Festival Director is Scott A. Jones.
Established in 2012, the Ohio State Middle School Honor Band Festival annually provides the opportunity for outstanding musicians in seventh and eighth grades to be nominated by their band directors for involvement in the one-day event.