Westonka Musicians Selected for Conference Honor Band

By Lorrie Ham

Eleven Westonka musicians were chosen to take part in the inaugral Wright County Conference Honor Band on Jan. 14 in Hutchinson. Directors from each school in the conference nominated at least 10 of their best students to take part in the event.

Representing Westonka were Kate Smith and Leah Pinalt on flute; Hannah Randklev and Ashley Krajewski on clarinet; Abbey Woods on bass clarinet; Anna Pinault and Chris Empey on alto sax; Kristen Holmberg and Timmy Levens on horn; Hanna Brustad on tuba and Nick Battis on percussion.

Other participating conference schools included Annandale, Dassel-Cokato, Delano, Glencoe-Silver Lake, Hutchinson and Waconia.

“Our students really enjoyed the day,” said Westonka Band Director Gretchen Chilson. “Their sense of pride in representing Mound Westonka was palpable, and they earned that. They really showed off what we do here to the rest of the conference.”

Students were rehearsed by directors from the Army National Guard band, and small and large group rehearsals took place throughout the day.

Director Chilson taught one of the small group rehearsals, which were “breakout” sessions from the full band rehearsal. The event culminated that evening in a concert featuring the student honor band and a sax quartet from the Guard band.

Included on the program were “Fanfare and Flourish for a Festive Occasion,” James Curnow; “Minnesota March,” John Philip Sousa; “Loch Lomond,” Frank Ticheli; “Mazama,” Jay Chattaway; “Andante and Tranquillo,” Samuel Barber arr. by Richard L. Saucedo, and “Fate of the Gods,” Steven Reineke.