25 PUSD music students chosen for Jr High Honor Band
By Cary Dingel
Such exciting news from Plumas Unified School District (PUSD) music programs — PUSD had a record-breaking showing for the California Music Educators Association (CMEA) Northern Section Junior High Honor Band this year.
Not only did 25 of our students successfully audition for this select group of the finest music students throughout Northern California, but six of them were also named as the first chair player on their instrument for the entire north state.
In order to be selected, each of these students had to prepare and record a designated solo and three scales. Then, professional judges listened to all of the entries and selected the top students in each section for the entire north state. We are so proud of our hard-working students!
This year’s honor band event will take place at Chico State on January 13th and 14th, where our students will rehearse with a wonderful guest conductor and then perform for parents and friends on the evening of the 14th in the Harlan Adams Theater.
If anyone would like to sponsor a student for this event ($100 per student to cover registration fees and hotel costs), or would like to donate to our music programs, please contact your community’s PUSD music teacher for details or visit this link to make an online donation: https://plumas-performing-arts.square.site/music-program-donation-links
PUSD Music Teachers
Eliza Hardee (Quincy)
Theresa Smith (Portola)
Jane Brown (Greenville and Chester)
PUSD Students selected for the CMEA Northern Section Junior High Honor Band
GHS Students:
Taylor Vaughn, clarinet
Alexis Winters, trombone*
CHS Students:
Maddison Rocha, flute
Henry Chavez, trombone
Andrew Pfister, percussion
Nancy Christianson, percussion
QHS Students:
Cheyanne Ellison, clarinet
Miley Nielsen, clarinet
Brooke McKinney, clarinet
Lillian Windle, bass clarinet
Luke Darue, bass clarinet
Scarlet Wood, alto saxophone
Alexis McKinney, trumpet
Emmett Tompkins, clarinet*
Patrick Wert, baritone
Jayden Shea, tuba
Scott Bethel, baritone saxophone*
Sean Pangburn, alto saxophone
Will Rich, alto saxophone
Justin Hughbanks, trumpet
Austin Beckley, trumpet
Daymond Dueming, French horn*
PHS Students:
Katie Romero, flute*
Jayla Kettle, clarinet
Madison Weatherby-Vieira, trumpet*
*Asterisks denote first chair
Jayla Kettle, Katie Romero, and Madison Weatherby-Vieira from Portola High School. Photo submitted
From left: Maddison Rocha, Nancy Christianson, Andrew Pfister and Henry Chavez from Chester High School. Photo submitted
From Quincy High: Patrick Wert and Jayden Shea. Photo submitted
