As the director of the high school band I have the privilege of working with some of the best, brightest, and most well rounded students Benton Community has to offer, those of course being the band students. These are just a few of their stories.
Recently twelve juniors and seniors (pictured below) went to Dorian honor band at Luther College in Decorah. After a day of playing, ten hungry students were politely waiting for two of their peers to join them for dinner. Several minutes passed and the two missing students were still not at our meeting place. Most of the students went to dinner, but a few of us went looking for our missing two ready to give them grief for holding up the group. We found these two students assisting the staff at Luther College by moving chairs and stands to clear the stage. No one asked them to do this, nor did any other students make the decision to stand and help move stands. Needless to say we were no longer able to give them grief for holding up the group.
A few days ago I unexpectedly missed a day of school. Mrs. Lampkin, the middle school band director, also needed to be gone that day leaving the band department with neither of their usual leaders. Who did we charge with subbing for the high school band that day? A band student of course! A student who plans on pursuing a career in music education has been doing a sort of internship with me the past few weeks. This student led the band on their own, with supervision from our choir colleagues. The rest of the band students played their best for their student leader, never thinking, “Why can’t we just have the day off?” Instead, plenty of learning happened despite neither of the two band directors being in the building. Seeing the video of this moment sincerely brought tears to my eyes.
Who are the Benton band students? Absolutely amazing humans, that’s who. They make me so very proud on a regular basis and I truly enjoy coming to work to see them. If you want to see these student musicians in action I invite you to come check out an upcoming music event:
April 29: Spring Encore! Senior spotlight band concert
May 13: Spring JAVA (jazz and variety acts)
May 17: Graduation