MHS Musicians to Play in Honor Band Concert

The 33rd Annual South Dakota North Area Honor Band will play in concert on Saturday, December 7, on the campus of Northern State University in Aberdeen. The concert begins at 4 p.m. in the Johnson Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students in grades 1-12.

MIlbank’s 15 musicians selected to participate in the band will be amongst approximately 100 students from 25 schools. Dr. Audrey Miller, Associate Professor of Clarinet, Director of Bands, and Department Chair at Northern State University, is the director of this year’s event.

MHS Students:
Ruth Luis Gomez –  senior –  flute
Alexis Meyer –  sophomore –  clarinet
Kayla Schweer – sophomore –  clarinet
Alex DeLaRosa – senior – bass clarinet
Franco Flores –  freshman –  bass clarinet
Katie Kruger – senior – alto saxophone
Yanderyn Olivares Zuniga –  junior – alto saxophone    
Shane Spiering –  senior –  baritone saxophone
Anna Neugebauer –  junior –  trumpet
Camryn Sovell –  junior –  trumpet
Gemma Street –  senior –  trumpet
Jack TerDenge –  sophomore –  french horn
Krista Nies –  junior –  trombone
Charles Whitesitt – senior –  trombone
Sam Shelstad –  sophomore –  tuba

Participating schools and their directors: Aberdeen Central – Jeremy Schutter and John Patzlaff; Aberdeen Christian – Renee Foss and Marnee Hauck; Aberdeen Roncalli – Kimberly Carda and Molly Royals; Britton-Hecla – Jakob Walden; Castlewood – Candance Fiedler; Clark – Amy Nelson; Eureka – Dale Batie; Gettysburg – Katrina Smith; Great Plains Lutheran – Eric Martens; Groton Area – Desiree Yeigh; Herried – Julie Borr; Hoven – Elizabeth Bengs; Howard – Jean Morrison; Huron – James Stueckrath; Ipswich – Becky Nierman; Iroquois – Scott Glodt; Langford – Kelly Wieser; Leola – Nancy Kindelspire; Milbank – Susan Karels; Mobridge-Pollock – Noelle Nemmers; Northwestern – Wendy Thorson; Redfield – Justin Desens; Sully Buttes – Erica Paxton; Summit; and Webster – Russell Garry.

The South Dakota North Area Honor Band was created when area band directors began expressing an interest in providing a regional opportunity for their experienced instrumental musicians. Upon nomination by their band director, students who auditioned for the 2024 South Dakota All-State Band are seated first in the ensemble, and additional students of high caliber complete the sections. It remains the goal of the directors to increase interest in instrumental performance and to provide a top-level learning experience for the more advanced high school band students of this area.

Submitted Photo: Front Row- Ruth Luis Gomez, Alexis Meyer, Kayla Schweer, Krista Nies, Yanderyn Olivares Zuniga, Katie Kruger, Gemma Street, Anna Neugebauer, Camryn Sovell.
Back Row- Franco Flores, Alex DeLaRosa, Jack terDenge, Charles Whitesitt, Shane Spiering
Not pictured- Sam Shelstad.