Eighth-grade honor band performs in Craig May 2

MEEKER — The Northwest Colorado District 8 eighth-grade honor band concert was held at Craig Middle School May 2.
The musicians arrived in Craig Thursday after school and practiced for auditions held Thursday evening.
After being given their chair assignments, they practiced for a full nine hours Friday to prepare for the concert held at 6 p.m. Friday.
Honor band is an annual event with District 8 middle school’s nominating the top eighth-graders in the band to perform. Selections were made by band instructor John Bolton of Craig Middle School.
Attending from Barone Middle School were Sydney Boes, flute; Shelby Lopez, clarinet; Trey Morris, percussion; Ethan Overton, trumpet; and Christopher Ruckman, percussion. Aubrey Walsh, clarinet; Collin Cochran, trumpet; and Justin Hardy, baritone; were selected but unable to attend. Participants were nominated by Barone Middle School band instructor, Joseph Collins. Meeker’s former band instructor, Tom Allen, was asked to conduct.
Schools and directors participating in honor band were Barone Middle School, Joseph Collins; Craig Middle School, John Bolton and Craig Smith; East Grand Middle School, Brian Dill; Glenwood Springs Middle School, Rob Merritt; Hayden Middle School, Derek Hurshman; North Park Middle School, Sharon Collier; Rangely Middle School, Rian Chiaravalloti; Rifle Middle School, Krista Espelien; Saint John Middle School, Van Merritt; Soroco Middle School, Kelli Turnipseed; Steamboat Springs Middle School, James Knapp; Summit Middle School, Mark Clark; and West Grand Middle School, Kathie Yost.
The repertoire for the performance began with “On the Mall” by Edwin Franko Goldman, followed by “Distant Thunder of the Sacred Forest” by Michael Sweeney. Next in the program was a Barone Middle School favorite “The Maelstrom” by Robert W. Smith and “Portrait of a Clown” by Frank Tichelli. The band concluded the performance with “God Bless the USA,” the Lee Greenwood rendition, arranged by John Edmonds.
The band received a standing ovation from a packed house of family and friends who were taken aback by the true talent displayed.