Photo courtesy of Blaine Schmidt

Some Perry High School students got the opportunity to perform in some prestigious ensembles.

Olivia Christensen, Hunter Ayers and Andres Zarate were selected to play in the 52nd Annual Drake University Honor Band Festival. Band Director Blaine Schmidt says Christensen was first chair oboe in the wind ensemble, while Zarate was second chair tuba and Ayers was fourth chair trombone in the concert band. Schmidt tells Raccoon Valley Radio this honor band was application based and the band staff at Drake University reviewed and chose the students.

Schmidt points out there were about 40 high schools represented from across the state in the four ensembles that performed this past weekend. He says this was an excellent opportunity for advanced student musicians that tested not only their abilities to play challenging music but also only having six hours to rehearse as a full ensemble before the public performance.

Schmidt adds he was proud of the students that were in the festival and hearing some of the music he’s heard before and other songs he knew about but hadn’t heard live until the festival.