Nearly 450 individual nominations from across the State of Ohio were received by organizers of the 2013 Ohio State University Middle School Honor Band Festival. 185 pupils were selected for participation, including seven from Westerville. From Heritage Middle School, participants are Nathaniel Kinser, grade 7, horn; Evan Seitz, grade 7, tenor saxophone; Michael Gleich, grade 8, percussion; and Samuel Johnston, grade 8, trombone. Heritage alternates are Abigail Messina, grade 7, B-flat clarinet; Ian Wesley, grade 7, trombone; Jenna Johnston, grade 8, tuba; and Jacob Ryan, grade 8, trumpet. The Director of Bands at Heritage Middle School is Christopher Kuhn. From Blendon Middle School, participants are Audrey Blessing, grade 8, trumpet; Luke Carpenter, grade 8, baritone saxophone; and Nathan Ware, grade 7, French horn. Blendon alternates are Emily Hayman, grade 7, French horn; Jackson Nixon, grade 7, tuba; and Troy Taylor, grade 7, alto sax. Blendon’s Director of Bands is Amy Levine.
The 2013 OSU Middle School Honor Band Festival will take place on Saturday, February 23, in Weigel Hall on the Columbus campus of The Ohio State University. Students who were selected for the one-day event will take part in one of two 80-piece concert bands – a 7th Grade Honor Band and an 8th Grade Honor Band. Both honor bands will have the opportunity to rehearse and perform with guest composer/conductor Brian Balmages and OSU Associate Director of Bands, Dr. Scott A. Jones, in addition to side-by-side rehearsals with musicians of the OSU Symphonic Band and Collegiate Winds. A free public performance will take place in Weigel Auditorium at 4:00 p.m. that afternoon.