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The band students have had a busy season of honor bands and festivals!

In January, students participated in the University of Dubuque Honor Band, the MAC Honor Band, and the Southeast Iowa Bandmasters Association (SEIBA) Honor Bands.

The University of Dubuque Honor Band took place on January 17. The students performed a great concert under the direction of Dr. Nolan Hauta and Dr. Evan Glickman, directors of band at University of Dubuque. Students participating in the University of Dubuque Honor Band were Olivia Fernando – Flute, Miriam Schwartz – Flute, Ellie Weyeneth – Clarinet, Alex Hady – Trumpet, Ethan Furgason – Trombone, Evan Wilson – Euphonium, and Ben Bates – Percussion.

The next weekend on January 20, students participated in the MAC Honor Band, hosted at Central DeWitt High School. The 9-10 band was directed by Dr. Rob Stull from Clarke University and the 11-12 band was directed by Dr. William Carson from Coe College. Students involved in the 9-10 band were Em Wermes – Flute, Miriam Schwartz – Flute, Adrian Gonzalez – Clarinet, Natalie Herrman – Alto Sax, Joseph Ngo – Tenor Saxophone, Ethan Furgason – Trombone, and Evan Wilson – Euphonium. Students involved in the 11-12 band were Olivia Fernando – Flute, Dale Cabrera – Clarinet, Ellie Weyeneth – Clarinet, Carter Nelson – Alto Sax, Renin Gray – Bari Saxophone, Alex Hady – Trumpet, and Ben Bates – Percussion.

We had two students audition for the Southeast Iowa Bandmasters Association (SEIBA) Honor Band, and Evan Wilson made it on euphonium! He performed at the University of Iowa Voxman School of Music under the direction of Dr. Mike Fansler from Western Illinois University.

Then, on February 22-23, we had 5 students participate in the University of Iowa Honor Band. Olivia Fernando – Flute, Ellie Weyeneth – Clarinet, Natalie Herrman – Alto Saxophone, Ethan Furgason – Trombone, and Evan Wilson- Trombone participated. Ellie was in the Voxman Band, under the direction of Dr. Timothy Mahr from St. Olaf College, and Olivia, Natalie, Ethan, and Evan were in the Welch Band, under the direction of Dr. Mark Heidel and Dr. Eric Bush from the University of Iowa.

Additionally, the Assumption Symphonic Band performed at the Guy Blair All Iowa Concert Band Festival at Central DeWitt High School on February 18, where they got feedback from Dr. Frank Tracz from Kansas State University, Dr. Elizabeth Peterson from the University of Illinois, Jeffrey Hinton from Missouri Western State University, and Dr. Michael Golemo from Iowa State University. They got to work with Dr. Catherine Rand from Southern Mississippi University and she gave valuable feedback and helped the band improve their pieces they are working on towards Iowa Large Group Contest in May.

The Assumption Jazz Knights performed at the University of Northern Iowa Tallcorn Jazz Festival on February 20 and got a clinic from Dr. Gordon Vernick, director of Jazz Studies at Georgia State University.

Congrats to our hard working students, and Go Knights!