Many FHS students are passionate about music. Recently, some of the band students were selected for different honors bands. Last month, FHS sent two seniors to perform in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association District 3 Honors Band, and this upcoming Friday, FHS will send six students to perform in the Honors Band at Wayne State University.
An honors band is a highly advanced band for students. It often includes more challenging music than students would perform in a high school-level band class, and it is often larger than one school.
These students are selected based on their past performance experiences.
“This can be what leadership role you have, what competitions you have performed at or even if you perform outside of the school day,” Band teacher Patrick Conaton said.
One of these bands had a performance on Jan. 18, which was through the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) District 3 Honors Band. Fenton High seniors Dominic DuPei and Chloe Edgar were chosen to participate.
“The expectation is that the students will prepare and perform five pieces in one day,” Conaton said.
Learning music is a challenge alone, learning five songs in a day that are different is also hard to do. “It is really difficult to do, as you only get one day to learn songs of varying length and style,” DuPei said.
Both Edgar and DuPei spoke of it being an experience performing at the MSBOA honors band.
“It was a unique experience because I met other students who also had a passion for music,” Edgar said.
And DuPei said, “I believe the honor band was a great opportunity which will help me continue in my music career into college.”
On Feb. 7, another group of FHS students will be sent to perform at Wayne State, and will be performing in the Wayne State University Honors Band. Seniors Jonah Andrews, Amy Plunkett and Joshua Webb, juniors Abigail Golen and Stella Nuveman and sophomore Michaela Wolbert are all expected to perform in the Wayne State University Honors Band.
The students are expected to fill out and submit an application for the Wayne State Honors Band. Conaton suggested that some students apply. Because the band received so many applications this year, it has created two honor bands.
Conaton is very proud of all his students’ work in honors bands this year.
“I am extremely proud that they earned this opportunity and happy that they are brave enough to go through with it,” said Conaton. “It is very intimidating to show up to an honors band, knowing that every student there is an exceptionally talented musician. It takes a lot of courage.”
With FHS sending a total of eight students to two different Honors Bands, that alone shows the commitment of band students at FHS. All of these students have an achievement to add to their resumes, college applications and much more due to the experience they’ve gotten from both Honors Bands.
