A select group of band students from Southeast Bulloch Middle School and  Southeast Bulloch High School participated recently in two of the most prestigious concerts for music students in the United States.

            The Eighth Annual Middle School Concert was held in December, while the 35th Annual High School Southeastern United States Honor Band Concert took place Jan. 31-Feb. 2. Both concerts were held at Troy University in Troy, Ala. 

            Middle school band members Morgan Mew, who plays the clarinet, Kassie Ormsby, the flute, and Jimmie Howell, the trumpet, earned spots in the Middle School Clinic and Honor Bands. Along with band director Joey Mitchell, they traveled to Troy, which is also the site of the National Band Directors Association Bandmasters Hall of Fame. It was Jimmie Howell’s second trip in as many years to SEUS.

            There, they practiced playing a number of compositions under the tutelage of world-renown conductor Larry Clarke for two days in one of three bands (Gold, Silver, and Crimson). In between practices, they attended master classes in each of their own instruments taught by Troy University faculty members. On the last evening, the 300 students from across the South played compositions in a spectacular concert.

            Then, in late January, it was the turn of the SEB High students to go to Troy. Morgan Driggers, who plays the French horn, Sarah Howell, the bass clarinet, Daniel Alexander, the baritone saxophone, and Alan Weathers, percussion, traveled to Troy with band director Matt Olsen and assistant director Joey Mitchell.

            There were an estimated 370 high school students from across the Southeastern area of the United States in attendance. Under the tutelage of world-renown composer Sean O’Loughlin, the students spent the better part of two days practicing in three bands (Gold, Crimson, and Silver). They also were given the opportunity to attend master classes in their particular instruments from Troy faculty.

            In addition to practicing with top-notch composers, conductors, and faculty members at Troy, the SEB students were treated to concerts from Troy’s world-class band and music programs, as well as special concerts put on by band ensembles from across the Southeast.

            In the case of the high school students, it also was an opportunity for Troy University to recruit the best of the best music students from across the South. According to band director Matt Olsen, three of his students were offered scholarships totaling some $30,000 if they should choose to attend Troy University to continue their music education.

            Then, the same four students from SEB High School, along with Jeffery Beasley, Will Smith and Josh Hellberg, traveled to Atlanta last weekend to participate in the 5th Annual Georgia State University Honor Bands. For two days, the group practiced under the direction of Dr. Robert Ambrose and his staff in three bands working on a number of compositions, played a concert on the second evening in the historic Rialto Theater.

            Finally, it was announced that SEB High School student Morgan Driggers had earned a spot as a member of the Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corps from Jacksonville, Fla. She is one of only 135 students of the 1,000 or so who auditioned to be chosen. Teal Sound has become one of the premiere Division II corps, winning the Bronze medal in Divisions  2& 3 at the Drum Corps International World Championships last year.