On December 8, North Lamar 9th grade band students went to Texas High School to compete with other freshmen across the region for spots in the Region 4 9th grade honor band.
“Out of 71 spots our students claimed 32 of them,” said assistant band director Jason R. Smith. “Quite remarkable!”
The students returned on December 13 and performed a concert at the Sullivan Performing Arts Center in Texarkana.
Taking first chair honors were Alina Tingey – flute; Bailee Swindle – oboe; Laura Carl – bassoon; Jeremy Bolton – tenor sax; Brice Loftin – bari sax; Ben Dong – trombone; Carter Preston – baritone; Seth Carter – tuba; and Ashton Carter – percussion.
Freshmen all region band members pictured beginning left are Seth Carter, Ashton Carter, Slade Gist, Kathy Fehr, Cheyenne Holder, Heather Armstrong, Bailee Swindle, Vanessa Perez, Sarah Gentry, and Jocelyn Gonzalez; second row, Rosa Chavez, Kyra Conlin, Alina Tingey, Emily Foster, Laura Carl, Marli Dority, Jaxon Shelton, Josh Kok, Reece Johnson, Christopher Sheppard, and Cody Gibson; and third row, Nate Johnson, Brice Loftin, Ben Dong, Sam Greenwell, Stephen Stewart, Carter Preston, Trent Fells, Emily Brownfield, Iyanla Hawkins, Jeremy Bolton, and Nikki Johnson.