Herbert Carter Global Community Magnet

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.