SDOC Band Students improve All-Region Band Status

In early January, over 2,000 band students from Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, and Spartanburg traveled to Greer High School to audition for the Region One Honor Band. Students had to perform for numerous judges, demonstrating proficiency on their instrument by playing scales from memory and a solo as well as demonstrating their sight-reading abilities and their knowledge of music vocabulary. The top 6th-8th grade students placed into the Junior Band, the top 9th-10th graders placed into the Clinic Band, and the top 11th-12th graders placed into the Senior Band. The School District of Oconee County Bands placed 43 students into the Region One Honor Bands this year, which is up significantly from 28 students in 2014 and 23 students in 2013. The students who placed into the Region Bands traveled to Furman University on Feb. 20-21 to participate in the SCBDA Region One Clinic. They worked with a clinician to prepare a concert. Students who placed in the top of their section for the Region One Honor Band were invited to audition for the All-State Band, which resulted in 11 students from Oconee County bands being selected to audition for the All-State Bands. Those students traveled to Lexington High School in late January to audition with the best from the state. The All State Clinic was held at Furman University from March 13-15 and was followed by a concert on the 15th. From Seneca Middle School: Region Band: Lauren Lee, flute; Danielle Strader, flute; Morgan Vuknic, clarinet; Emily Hanewald, clarinet; Michael Feagan, trumpet; Ellie Cannon, trombone; Phil Drymiotis, trombone; Hunter Jefferson, tuba; Ryleigh Holbert, tuba; Benton Halbig, percussion; Sebastian Tanksley, percussion. From Walhalla Middle School: Region Band: Mason Cochran, trumpet; Elliot Wechter, trumpet; Audrey Boyles, bassoon. From West Oak Middle School: Region Band: Luke Smith, bass clarinet; Cameron Patterson, alto saxophone; Alexis Hoover, clarinet. From Seneca High School: Region Band: Cali Harbin, clarinet; Josh Lasky, trumpet; Furman Wilson, trumpet; Brendan Williams, percussion. All-State Band Alternate: Brendan Williams. From Walhalla High School: Region Band: Hope Owens, oboe; Joshua Leonard, oboe; Madison Ranalli, clarinet; Kristin Heape, clarinet, Megan Ranalli, clarinet; Caleb Kelley, alto saxophone; Mac McCrary, trumpet; Lauren Long, flute. All-State Band: Jillian McNally, flute. From West Oak High School: Region Band: Tyler Price, flute; Belle Tyler, flute; Elizabeth Dodd, bassoon; Anna Morgan, clarinet; Amy Faust, clarinet; Madison Prater, clarinet; Kaylee Jenkins, bass clarinet; Chandler Wellman, alto saxophone; Taylor Neave, tenor saxophone; Micah Medlin, tuba; Rob Breland, tuba; Anthony Storen, percussion; Brandon Gonzalez, percussion.