Band

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

OBOE

  • Joslyn Mitchell – 2nd Band/1st Chair

CLARINET

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

BASS CLARINET

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

CONTRA BASS CLARINET

  • Zariya Bell – 2nd Band/1st Chair

ALTO SAXOPHONE

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

TENOR SAXOPHONE

  • Noah Sheals – 1ST Band/3rd Chair

BARITONE SAXOPHONE

  • Lauren Brown – 2nd Alternate

TRUMPET

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

FRENCH HORN

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

TROMBONE

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

TUBA

  • Carrie Jones – 2nd Band/1st Chair

PERCUSSION

  • Elijah Doss – 2nd Band/11th Chair
  • Chris Partain – 4th 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.