Five students headed to Hawaii with Lions All State Band

From Staff Reports, Hi-Times

Five members of the Tupelo High School band will travel to Hawaii next June with the Mississippi Lions All State Band for the International Parade Competition.

Freshman Alyssia Brieck is eighth-chair flute; senior Patrick Knight is third-chair alto saxophone; junior Ian Steward is 25th-chair trumpet; junior Treyce Bannerman is fourth-chair tuba; and junior Jeremy Hendrix is second-chair tenor drums.

Five THS students were also named as alternates. Haithem Mahmoud, senior, is first alternate trumpet (26th overall). Kyle Woodward, sophomore, is first alternate contra alto clarinet (second overall). Danielle Crayton, junior, is fourth alternate trumpet (29th overall). JD Dunklee, freshman, is second alternate snare drum (13th overall). David Neely, senior, is fifth alternate snare drum (16th overall).

The students were among 27 THS band members who auditioned for the Mississippi Lions All State Band in Pearl on Nov. 15. Fifteen students returned the following Saturday for call backs. In addition to the All State Band members and alternates, Quaveion Haddley (baritone), Tyler Bates (baritone) , Eli McCaleb (French horn), Sam Patrick (trumpet) and Mason Keopradit (drum major) advanced to second round.

In other band news, Bannerman, Knight and Woodward, along with Tupelo Middle School oboist Analiese Kent were selected to attend the Mississippi Bandmasters Association State Clinic in Natchez. Knight, Woodward and Bannerman will participate in the All State Concert Band, while Kent will participate in one of the three clinic bands. The clinic will be Dec. 10-14.