25th Annual Honor Band Concert Held
By Alanna McKeown.
Pierce High School hosted an honor band concert, now in its 25th anniversary, on April 11.
“It’s always exciting to see so many students from so many schools get together and make beautiful music. We had a record of four 4-year honor band students,” Pierce High band director Michael Sindt said.
The sixth and seventh graders played four songs: “Spy Train” by Robert Buckley, “Ding!” by Peter Sciaino, “Cool Cat Shuffle” by David Shaffer, and “Metschke March” by Nolan Schmit. They were directed by Samantha Hahn.
Hahn has been teaching instrumental music since 2010 and is the current director at Norfolk Catholic School in Norfolk. She received her bachelor of science in music education as well as a master of science in music, both from Wayne State College.
The eighth and ninth graders also played four selections: “Sun Cycles” by Brian Balmages, “March of the Hobgoblins, Salvation is Created” arranged by Michael Brown, and “The Incredibles" arranged by Paul Murtha. They were directed by Jason Smith.
Smith has been the 5-12 grade band director at Wahoo Public Schools for the past 14 years. Before this position, he taught K-12 music at Bancroft-Rosalie. He received a bachelor’s of music education from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 2009, and his master's in curriculum and instruction with emphasis in arts integration from Wayne State College in 2021.
“I have been in the honor band for three years. I thought I did pretty well at the concert,” freshman Parker Anson stated.
Overall, the concert had 22 schools altogether, which is the most they have ever had.
