HHS Band Members Named to District Honor Band

A total of 16 Harrison High School band students have received 2022 District 12 Honor Band recognition, announced Josh Ray, director of bands at Harrison.

Named to the District 12 Honor Band from Harrison Bands are:

• Daniel Banstetter, Clarinet
• Ashling Clark, Bass Clarinet
• Ainsley Collier, Clarinet
• Blake Dwelle, Alto Saxophone
• Maggie Forester, Trumpet
• Aurora Hampton, Trumpet
• Evan Janiga, Trombone
• Katherine Murray, Clarinet
• Connor Naylor, Trumpet
• Tristan Sanford, French Horn
• Alex Thrash, Clarinet, and
• Davis Wetter, French Horn/Bass Clarinet.

Recognized as alternate members of the District 12 Honor Band are:

• Karl Christianson, Tenor Saxophone
• Katie Ferrell, Alto Saxophone
• Lauren Sanford, Oboe, and
• Wesley Wilder, Tenor Saxophone

The District 12 Honor Band will perform in concert at North Cobb High School on Sunday, Feb. 6, following music workshops and rehearsals conducted over the previous several days. Participants also will attend a special concert performed by the Cobb New Horizons Band on Saturday, Feb. 5.

“Earning Honor Band status is a fabulous accomplishment for these incredibly talented and dedicated musicians,” said Ray. “We’re extremely proud of their commitment, and their representation of the Harrison Bands program. And we extend special thanks to their families and supporters who have encouraged them through the years.”

The District 12 Honor Band is comprised of musicians from throughout the region with highly developed individual skills and whose musicianship is evaluated in a comprehensive audition process. Musical skills evaluated for Honor Band include mastery of scales and outstanding sight-reading performances. Freshmen and sophomore students must perform from memory eight scales, all in required range, pattern, and order, with juniors and seniors performing 12 scales. They also had to learn and play technical and lyrical etudes.

Honor Band members also may audition for the Georgia Music Educators Association All-State band.

About Harrison High School Bands:

Since its inception in 1991, the Harrison High School band program has quickly established a reputation for musical excellence. The Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Concert Band each meet for 90 minutes every day within a four-period block schedule and typically perform five to six concerts per year. Students in the Harrison bands are consistent members of the District Honor Band, Georgia All-State Band, Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra, Honor Band of America, Georgia’s Governor’s Honors Program, Atlanta Youth Jazz Orchestra and Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra. In addition to excellence in music, Harrison Band members consistently demonstrate outstanding scholastic, teamwork and competitive abilities, developing personal relationship, study and life skills important to future success.