Okoboji Middle, High School students selected to Honor Band

(Photo submitted) Students from 44 schools auditioned for membership in two equal 95 piece bands. Okoboji Middle School band members named to the Northwest Iowa Junior High Honor Band were: Mikayla Perkins on flute, Jennifer Schmitz and Emily Noll on clarinet, Morgan Nielsen on bass clarinet, Sydney Boeckholt on trombone, and Tyler Ohl on trumpet.

Six students from Okoboji Middle School were accepted into the Northwest Iowa Junior High Honor Band. Auditions were held Saturday, Oct. 18 in Storm Lake. A total of 425 students from 44 schools auditioned for membership in two equal 95 piece bands. Okoboji students accepted are Mikayla Perkins on flute, Jennifer Schmitz and Emily Noll on clarinet, Morgan Nielsen on bass clarinet, Sydney Boeckholt on trombone, and Tyler Ohl on trumpet.

The honor bands presented their concert at Storm Lake High School on Saturday, Nov. 1. Okoboji Middle School band director is Julie Forney

Five Okoboji High School students have been accepted to the Northwest Iowa Honor Band Festival. Approximately 400 of the finest instrumental music students from northwest Iowa auditioned Saturday, Nov. 1, for a position in one of the two equal 100 piece bands. OHS students accepted to the honor band festival include Nicole Ballah and Callie Froendt clarinet, Kris Kaufman on trumpet, and Lowen Gude and Mark Welle on tuba. Guest conductors for this year's honor band festival are Dr. Scott Weiss, director of bands at the University of Kansas; and Dr. William Carson, director of bands at Coe College. The festival concert will take place on the campus of Morningside College in Sioux City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009. Okoboji High School band director is Greg Forney.