Posted on 11/20/2017
The Missouri Music Educators Association wants us all to help trumpet the importance of music education in our schools. One of the ways it does so is by honoring the best musicians in each area of the state. Several FHSD students have earned coveted spots on the Metro 8 Honor Band and Metro 8 Honor Jazz Band, proving that FHSD bands are among the best in the state.
It takes a lot of talent to participate in band, but it also takes great courage to endure a blind audition in competition with the best in the Metro 8. Francis Howell Central’s Band Director Nathan Griffin explained, “These students took on quite a challenge outside of the classroom, individually working up several pieces of music. All the students who auditioned should be congratulated on tackling such an enormous task.” FHC had some of the program’s best results ever, with 17 Spartans making the Metro 8 lists (or alternate positions).
Francis Howell North students also had great success at the audition. Eleven FHN students made the Metro 8 Concert Band, along with two alternates, and two others earned alternate status with the Jazz Band (15 total). New Band Director Rob Stegeman gushed with pride. “The band students at North are some of the most focused and determined I have ever seen,” he said. “Their successes through marching band and with our other activities come from their ability to accept change and work with their whole hearts.”
From Francis Howell High School, only ten students auditioned, but Clare Raftery made the Metro 8 Honor Band with her outstanding musical skills. FHHS Band Director Chris Miller said, “Clare is a sophomore clarinet student that has made the St. Louis Metro 8 Honor Band two years in a row. She is a talented student who loves music and loves to compete.”
The love of music can bring us together like little else, and thanks to these students, the soundtrack to life in FHSD is that much better. The students below will have the prestigious honor of auditioning for the All-State Honor Band, one of the highest honors a band student can earn. The Honor Band will have the privilege of performing the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Please join FHSD in congratulating these students on their success!
Francis Howell Middle School:
Preston Reuter
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Trombone
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Hudson Troyer
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Trombone
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Ally Sprague
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Flute
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Caleb Cargill
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Flute
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Sarah Savio
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Clarinet
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Tyler Oberg
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Alto Saxophone
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August Helleny
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Alto Saxophone
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Xavier Flores
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Oboe
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Kendal Abeln
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Baritone Horn
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Sarah Marion
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French Horn
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Wil Andren
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Tuba
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Kennedy Adams
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Tuba
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Barnwell Middle School:
Carly Gordon
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Clarinet
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Anshul Bandi
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Alto Saxophone
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Stan Lindquist
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Trumpet
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Calvin Caswell
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Trumpet
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Emily Schmidt
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Trumpet
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Peter Huelsing
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Tuba
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Bryan Middle School:
Spencer Hale
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Trumpet
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Alex Gustafson
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Trumpet
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Daniel Kent
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Trombone
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Zane Showalter
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Clarinet
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Tara Iverson
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Clarinet
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Zeke Showalter
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Clarinet
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Hollenbeck Middle School:
Hunter Basham
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French Horn
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Noah Woerther
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Trombone
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Derek Ludwig
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Baritone Horn
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Hunter Basham
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French Horn
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Saeger Middle School:
Lesa Haarmann
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Clarinet
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Kate Voges
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Clarinet
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Hannah Baumhardt
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Clarinet
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Rebecca Bryan
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Alto Saxophone
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Allison Hoefle
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Bass Clarinet
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Evan Meurer
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French Horn
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Francis Howell Central:
Aleuria Alderson
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Percussion: Timpani
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Laurel Ammond
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Horn in F
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Joey Black
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Jazz Alto Sax
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Sam Eckhoff
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Jazz Bass
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Sam Ellison
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Jazz Trumpet
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Abimael Herrera
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Trumpet/Cornet (alternate)
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Andrew Houmes
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Horn in F (alternate)
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Tucker Jones
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Oboe
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Alex LaBanca
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Percussion: Mallets
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Vanessa Luan
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Flute
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Stephanie Monson
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Flute
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Nicolas Moore
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Percussion: Snare and Mallets
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Matt Mossinghoff
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Trumpet/Cornet
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Sam Reed-Bippen
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Jazz Percussion: Drums
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Christa Rolsing
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Horn in F
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Elizabeth Skelly
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Horn in F
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Ethan Stepanek
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Jazz Trumpet(alternate)
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Francis Howell North:
Grant Argent
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Jazz Guitar (alternate)
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Kiley Beiner
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Bb Soprano Clarinet (alternate)
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Arianna Chaves
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Bb Soprano Clarinet
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Abigail Chruma
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Alto Saxophone
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Sam Dwyer
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Jazz Trumpet (alternate)
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James Fairless
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Trombone
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Ben Mossinghoff
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Tuba
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Michael Murphy, Jr.
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Percussion: Snare
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Ian Perry
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Trumpet/Cornet
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Ashley Raster
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Bb Soprano Clarinet
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Dominic Schneider
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Tuba
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Avery Ward
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Trombone
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Sam Weaver
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Alto Saxophone (alternate)
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Tyler Windsor
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Bb Soprano Clarinet
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Christian Witte
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Baritone BC
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Francis Howell High School