Participating Bands from Across Nebraska Please People at the Class B All State
Launch the media gallery 1 playerBy Keaton Vavra
Pierce participants left the high school at 5:10 a.m. on March 29, and trekked on the long journey to Grand Island Northwest High School for Class B All State honor band. Three bands, the symphonic band, wind ensemble and jazz band performed at the honor band, and Pierce students were split between them.
The symphonic band was supervised by Mrs. Sandy Murphy, and the Pierce students in it were Lillian Blank and Brayden Lambrecht. The symphonic band performed the songs “Marzo Zingaro” by Randall D. Standridge, “Squirrel Chase” by Carol Brittin Chambers, “Encanto” by Robert W. Smith, and “Epiphany” by Erik Morales.
“The day was fun, mostly meeting new people and adding on to my skills. My favorite song was ‘Squirrel Chase’ because it was the last song we played, and it was the most energetic. I would do it again next year. My favorite part was performing because at the end of the day it was like all our hard work paid off and we showed off to all our parents and it was a very nice facility,” Lambrecht, a sophomore trombone player who performed in the symphonic band, said.
The wind ensemble band was led by Mrs. Lori Falcone, and the Pierce participants were Zoey Ebmeier, Amelia Ahlers, Trayton Christiansen, Mya Johnson, Makayla Shefl, Aubrie Zimmerman, Jayna Prochaska, Addison Frye, Keaton Vavra, and Avery Wragge. The wind ensemble performed “At Evening’s First Star” by David R. Gillingham, “Steel” by Randall D. Standridge, “Sun Cycles” by Brian Balmages, and “Washington Post” by John Phillip Sousa and Arr. by Andrew Balent.
“Overall, my Class B experience was wonderful. I mean I love the director, I had her for the Pierce honor band my eighth grade year. It was wonderful having her again, and I met some good people from other schools that finally. My favorite song was ‘Sun Cycles,’ and overall it was a wonderful experience. I wish I could keep doing it until I can’t play my trumpet anymore, and I encourage anyone in band to do it, and it is a wonderful experience being able to participate with NSAA class B schools,” Christiansen, a senior trumpet player in the wind ensemble, said.
The jazz band was composed of the Pierce students Aubrey Hanson, Kaylee Steffen, Hadleigh Collison, Christian Nordby, Payton Ebmeier, Maya Johnson, and Spencer Sindt, and was conducted by Mr. Bob Krueger. The jazz band performed “So Danco Samba” by Antonio Jobim and Arr. by Victor Lopez, “Backlash” by Donald Pickett and Arr. by Mike Kamuf, “Blues You Can Use” by David Springfield, “Ever After” by David Springfield, and “Crystal Cove” by Patty Darling.
“It was fun and entertaining to meet the people around. My favorite song was ‘Ever After.’ My favorite part was when we were waiting to perform just because we get to hear other bands, and I would definitely do it again next year,” Ebmeier, a sophomore trumpet player in the jazz band, said.
