MJHS students shine at all-region auditions

The Marion Junior High School Band had a standout showing Saturday in Cabot during auditions for the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association Region IV Honor Band. A total of 36 students earned a position in one of the all-region bands.

This year’s total shatters last year’s showing of 17 (which had doubled number from the previous year). Only Cabot, a 7A school with two junior highs and a ninth-grade academy, had more all-region selections. Other schools participating included West Memphis, Searcy, Beebe, Riverview, Lonoke, and Bald Knob.

“This is a tremendous testament to the hard work our students are putting in,” said Marion band director Monty Hill. “It’s such an incredible opportunity for a young musician to participate in the all-region band, and I’m thrilled we have so many students who will get to do it. To see the number of all-region selections increasing every year shows that our students are buying into the program we are building here.”

The full list of Marion Junior High all-region band selections is as follows:

FLUTE

Peyton Bateman – 1^st Band/8^th Chair
Allie Johnson – 1^st Band/10^th Chair
Kaelynn Wright – 2^nd Band/5^th Chair
Faith Watkins – 2^nd Band/9^th Chair
Cambria Rains – 2^nd Band/12^th Chair

OBOE

Joslyn Mitchell – 2^nd Band/1^st Chair

CLARINET

Jazmine Roberts – 1^st Band/12^th Chair
Kayden Harris – 1^st Band/13^th Chair
Kaitlynn Wright – 1^st Band/19^th Chair
Gabby Toquinto – 1^st Band/24^th Chair
Gabriel Livingston – 2^nd Band/7^th Chair
Brianna Palencia – 2^nd Band/20^th Chair
Jazlyn Thomas – 2^nd Band/21^st Chair
Anais Capers – 2^nd Band/24^th Chair
Yaniv McDaniel – 2^nd Band/26^th Chair
Keira Riley – 2^nd Alternate
Madeline Lanier – 8^th Alternate

BASS CLARINET

Gabriella Lara – 2^nd Band/1^st Chair
Chelci Johnson – 2^nd Band/2^nd Chair

CONTRA BASS CLARINET

Zariya Bell – 2^nd Band/1^st Chair

ALTO SAXOPHONE

Ariel Ross – 1^st Band/1^st Chair
Damien Nicks – 1^st Band/4^th Chair
Chris Abrams – 2^nd Band/3^rd Chair
Tayla McClanton – 2^nd Alternate

TENOR SAXOPHONE

Noah Sheals – 1^ST Band/3^rd Chair

BARITONE SAXOPHONE

Lauren Brown – 2^nd Alternate

TRUMPET

Ethan Martin – 1^st Band/11^th Chair
Kera Fesperman – 2^nd Alternate

FRENCH HORN

Cameron Baker – 1^ST Band/4^th Chair
Billy Zheng – 2^nd Band/1^st Chair
Erick Perez – 2^nd Band/4^th Chair

TROMBONE

Kevin Gudino – 2^nd Band/9^th Chair
Adrianna Jackson – 3^rd Alternate

TUBA

Carrie Jones – 2^nd Band/1^st Chair

PERCUSSION

Elijah Doss – 2^nd Band/11^th Chair
Chris Partain – 4^th Alternate

The community will have two opportunities to check out the Marion band program in action this week. On Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., the entire band program (grades 7-12) will perform its Christmas Concert at Marion Performing Arts Center. Then, on Thursday, the Patriot Pride Marching Band will march in the Marion Christmas Parade. The parade begins at 6:30 p.m.