South Central Conference Honor Band

Fourteen middle school band members will be representing Clarke in the South Central Conference Honor Band on Tuesday, March 20. Other schools in the conference include Albia, Centerville, Chariton, Davis County, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont and Knoxville. Each school is sending seventh and eighth grade students to participate in this honor band.

Clarke will host the event this year. The Clarke Seventh Grade Band will be represented by Riley Elsbury (trombone), Calhoun Lundquist (trombone), Braden Blevins (tuba) and Jenna Crawford (percussion). The Clarke Eighth Grade Band will be represented by Chailyn Beydler (flute), Jessica Guerrero (clarinet), Sophia Hicks (clarinet), John Reynoldson (alto saxophone), Jairus Davis (tenor saxophone), Ely Crawford (bari saxophone), Jadie Bowlsby (trumpet), Breanna Selsor (French Horn), Jose Vega Polanco (tuba) and Colby Feehan (percussion). All of these band members are students of Christie Averweg, the middle school band director at Clarke.

Students have been given five pieces of music to practice in advance of the honor band. The guest conductor will be Steve Day, a retired band director from Des Moines. He continues to be active as a professional trumpeter in central Iowa.

On March 20, all of the students from the various schools will rehearse together at Clarke during the afternoon as an ensemble for the first time. That evening, they will present a concert for the public. The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Clarke Auditorium. Admission to the concert is $3 per adult and $2 per student.