student spotlight
By Cameron Carr Photos courtesy of John Laswell and Westerville North Bands
A Major Accomplishment Westerville Honor Band highlights dedicated student musicians
T
he student musicians of Westerville are dispersed across three schools, but one event brings together the best and most dedicated of the bunch. The Westerville Honor Band, started in the 2019-20 school year, recognizes top musicians from all three high schools. “It’s the best of the best out of the three (high schools) put together,” says John Laswell, Westerville South High School director of bands. Westerville’s three high school band directors come together to select the most deserving of their Westerville Honor Band performances are intended to be biennial; its last performance was in 2020. students for the honor. Then, in collaboration with Westerville Community This year, that performance, titled The More than just the challenge of working Bands, those students participate in a day Young Person’s Concert, will take place with advanced compositions, Honor Band of instruction and rehearsal followed by Sunday, March 6 at Westerville Central requires students to adapt to a new group a concert the next day with Westerville High School. Chris Hoch, director of of musicians and a different setting. Community Bands. The Ohio State University Marching and “A new environment is always challengAthletic Bands, will work with ing with a new listening environment,” says students as a clinician the day oboist Lydia Fyock, a senior at South. “It’s before the concert. an experience where it helps you grow as For students, participating a musician.” in the Westerville Honor Band Each Westerville high school has a is an opportunity to take on marching band, two concert bands and challenging music with much a jazz band. Honor Band, comprised of less rehearsal time than an en- around 60 musicians, is similar in size to semble typically offers. one of those concert band ensembles. Matthew Sliwinski, a seWith a roughly even split of members nior tuba player at Wester- from each of the high schools, Honor ville North, says that playing Band puts students beside musicians they in similar groups in the past may not be familiar with. At the same has helped improve his musi- time, it also gives students a chance to recal abilities. connect with friends from middle school “The music seems im- or childhood. possible when you first get “The No. 1 thing the kids look forward it but you practice it and to more than anything is getting to play you’re just playing it fine,” with their friends,” Laswell says. Students in Honor Band spend one day rehearsing and he says. “You learn how to Fyock, who also participated in the working with a clinician and Westerville Community do things quickly.” first Honor Band, says that playing with Bands members. 20 March/April 2022
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