![Article Image Alt Text]( "Amelia Underwood, Lacey Lewis, Ethan Street, Tristen Rodden- berry, Drew Bunkley, Lucas Moore, Griffin Underwood, Natalie Purvis and Amy Miller, not pictured, will perform at Atlantic Coast High School Jan. 25.")
Amelia Underwood, Lacey Lewis, Ethan Street, Tristen Rodden- berry, Drew Bunkley, Lucas Moore, Griffin Underwood, Natalie Purvis and Amy Miller, not pictured, will perform at Atlantic Coast High School Jan. 25.
Nine Hilliard Middle-Senior High School band students will perform at Atlantic Coast High School Jan. 25.
Seniors Amelia Underwood and Amy Miller, junior Lacey Lewis and freshman Ethan Street will perform with other band director-nominated students in a group.
Sophomore Tristen Rodden-berry and freshman Drew Bunk-ley will perform in the auditioned high school district honor band.
Eighth-graders Lucas Moore, Griffin Underwood and Natalie Purvis will play in the auditioned middle school district honor band.
Purvis plays French horn. She talked about the rigors of the recent audition.
“It was definitely tough getting in and it’s nerve-wracking knowing that I’ve got potential to be in it,” she said. “And people think higher of you because of it, and you’ve got to keep up with those standards.”
The teen is excited to represent her school. The students began preparing in October for the mid-November audition that will take them to Jacksonville. Hilliard has 45 band members.
“To have this many students going – it’s a great opportunity for a small band to do big things,” Purvis said, adding, “I just kind of want to encourage other people to try and get in because it’s easier than it sounds.”
Lewis has played alto saxophone in the school band for six years. She embraced the challenge of moving to the next level, saying, “I think it’s a really important learning experience because it allows you to connect with people in your music community. And you get to meet a lot of people who are dedicated to the same things you are.”
Roddenberry plays clarinet and saxophone. He will play clarinet in the honor band.
“It’s always a lot of fun,” he said. “We get to learn a lot of new stuff and we play really difficult music.”
Director of Bands William Hazlett is in his seventh year at HMSHS. He is pleased with the students’ results.
“I continue to raise the bar and these students always rise to the challenge,” he said.
The band is also practicing for the upcoming Christmas celebration concert Tuesday in the cafetorium at 7 p.m. The community is invited to attend the free performance.