Cherokee County School District

03/28/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/28/2023 17:08

100 Young Musicians Perform in Middle School Honor Band

One hundred Cherokee County School District young musicians recently performed together for the district's new Middle School Honor Band program.

The exemplary band students, who all are in seventh or eighth grade, represented all seven CCSD middle schools. As part of the program, students rehearsed together and then performed a concert at Dean Rusk Middle School under the direction of guest conductor Matt Price of Fayette County Public Schools.

Dean Rusk MS band director teacher Lloyd McDonald said the event was a "resounding success." He noted that, after the concert, he heard positive feedback from students and parents such as this comment: "students had an amazing time and enjoyed every minute ... it was so fun to learn new things and have these new opportunities."

"Congratulations to our middle school band students selected for this special honor!" Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. "Thank you to our outstanding band directors for all that you do to teach our young musicians and to organize opportunities like this. Performing arts classes and extra-curricular groups offer our students the chance to develop talent and creativity, work together as a group and explore possible careers in the arts."

CCSD Middle School Honor Band members:
Creekland MS: eighth grade, Samantha Belangee, clarinet; Grady Bonham, trumpet alternate; Andy Hudson, flute; Todd Lofton, trumpet alternate; Levi Norris, bassoon; and seventh grade, Andie Champion, horn alternate; Isabella D'Agostino, flute alternate; Keira Flahardy, horn alternate; Mailey Meenach, horn alternate; Om Rela Muni, alto sax. The school's band director is Krista Berezo.

Dean Rusk MS: eighth grade, Madalyn Alba, trumpet; Molly Begley, clarinet; Diego Cisneros, alto sax; Emma Clay, clarinet; Yasmeen Gheith, bass clarinet; Luke Griffies, clarinet; Megan Henry, flute; Matthew Klucsarits, trumpet; Lily Koenig, baritone; Alayna Liepold, trumpet; Justin Moore, alto sax; Amani Odenigbo, trombone; Sara Rogers, flute; Ashley Rucker, clarinet; Piper White, percussion; Dennis Whitley, tenor sax; and seventh grade, Beckett Bethmann, bassoon; James Burns, tenor sax; Londyn Cox, flute; Zach Gentilello, trombone; Desiree Harris, tuba; Rhys Lane, percussion; Corbin Mahon, alto sax; Kahlen Moon, clarinet; Lana Perisic, clarinet; Stefan Quiles, percussion; Jackie Ramos, clarinet; Chase Rogers, tuba; Collin Sims, percussion; Ezekiel Thomas, clarinet; Sierra Yarbrough, flute. The school's band director is Lloyd McDonald.

E.T. Booth MS: eighth grade, Hannah Clark, flute; Kaiden Cribbs, flute; Margaux Davis, clarinet; Bethany Johnson, trumpet; Ryker Karp, trombone; Rohan Pandya, flute; Aiden Roberson, tuba; Gustavo Strougo, trumpet; Pradhyumna Vasishta, flute; Sophie Wadsworth, alto sax; Liv Wright, baritone sax; and seventh grade, Ava Bourgault, flute; Lily Champion, flute; Mariana Strougo, clarinet. The school's band director is Cary Johnson.

Freedom MS: seventh grade, Briana Brown, clarinet; Peyton Dick, bassoon; Aubrey Force, oboe; Alexander Hamilton, alto sax; Sydney Hechler, flute; Pucci, Rayna, clarinet; Noah Stuart, percussion. The school's band director is Jonathan Bishop.

Mill Creek MS: eighth grade, Bryson Boldin, clarinet; Julian Brooker, trombone; Isabel Mason, clarinet; Kaitlyn Rosenau, flute; Ryan Tucker, trumpet; and seventh grade, Anish Raja, clarinet; Hana Seo, clarinet. The school's band director is Ryan LeQuier.

Teasley MS: eighth grade, Jacob Antunez, trumpet; Alaina Bird, percussion; Thaxton Cheyne, trombone; Cadman Grant-Tweedie, alto sax; Nathan Luke, percussion; Peyton Reed, clarinet; Jeremiah Rojas, bassoon; Cason Vaughn, trombone; and seventh grade, Aaron Lee, flute; Emory Rainey, baritone; Alyssa Toliver, clarinet. The school's band director is Sean Furilla and Melissa Willingham.

Woodstock MS: eighth grade, Ashley Gaspar, clarinet; Caitlyn Hill, flute; Luke Morawski, trombone; Devan Parameswaran, percussion; Mattie Ramsey, trumpet; Helen Rizk, clarinet; and seventh grade, Nicholas Ambery, trombone; Ellie Cosgrove, horn; Emma Davis, trumpet; Dylan Heggen, baritone sax; Noah Lee, baritone; Elijah Lewis, bass clarinet; Max Shewbert, trumpet; Jake Tolbert, trumpet; Kyle Vest, bass clarinet. The school's band director is Jefferson Doyle.
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