The Panther band has been thriving in recent months, backed by the strong, devoted leadership of their director Andy Carter. Monday, January 28, two OHS Panthers were selected to be on the 2013 All-Central Region Jazz Honors Band. Chosen by the North Carolina Music Educators Association, Johnathon Currin, a senior who plays the trumpet, and Jeremiah Peterson, a sophomore who plays the trombone, are 2 of 36 students on the honors band.
“I was very surprised, and even ecstatic,” Peterson replied about being selected, “and I was even happier to have been a part of this amazing experience.”
Currin and Peterson both agree that they will probably audition for the All-State Jazz Honors Band in March as their two-day experience with professional band clinicians really helped them understand what these bands are all about. Along with his All-Central Region Jazz Honors Band selection, Currin was also selected to be on the All-District Honors Band along with fellow Panthers Nathan Tilley, Alejandro Muñoz, and José Ortega. Tilley and Muñoz will also be competing at the state level for their band in March.
As for the selection process for the All-Region Jazz Band, Currin and Peterson, along with all other jazz band students, were asked if they wanted to audition for the All-Region band, and if they were interested, they would be given the audition piece, and scales to play in front of judges during the audition.
Currin and Peterson were both very excited upon selection, and they hope to continue trying out for the honors band throughout their next year(s) in high school. When asked about his future in band, Peterson said “I am proud to say that I am a jazz trombonist. It will be a life-long journey to become better every day than I am now, and will be then, but I know that I will love every second of it.”
Carter, Mary May, who is the CW Stanford Band Director, and many other adult leaders have had major influences on our Panther band members, and have pushed them to pursue a music career. With this motivation and education, hopefully we can see some great success with some of our Panther band graduates.
Lastly, don’t forget to mark your calendars for three upcoming events by our Panther band. One event is in February, and two are in May. Thursday, February 28 is the Pre-MPA Band Performance in the OHS auditorium (Time TBA). Sunday, May 19 is the Full Band Concert in the OHS auditorium at 3:00 pm. Lastly, Sunday, May 26 to Tuesday, May 28 the OHS Panther Regiment Trip will be in Washington, D.C.
If you see these proud Panthers around the school or around town, congratulate them on their honor, and hopefully we can see more Panther band students honored throughout the upcoming years.
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