Bi-County Honor Band, Choir concert slated for March 13

The annual Bi-County Honor Band and Choir concert will begin at 7 p.m. at the INB Performing Arts Center in Spokane.

Family, friends, and community members are encouraged to attend not only to support local student musicians, but also to experience a night of musical engagement.

Each year, junior high and high school students from small schools across the area come together to practice and perform choir and band pieces.

Junior high students are selected randomly while high school students are selected through auditions.

Aptly named, students recognize the honor of participating.

Alto saxophone player Spencer Gering said, “It’s an honor to be in honor band because the talent that already exists is phenomenal, and to be able to play with the talented people that got in is quite a privilege.”

Similarly, trumpet player Sharon Anderson noted that the honor is the opportunity to collaborate with other skilled musicians.

“It’s kind of like recognition for your hard work and personal improvement in band since you are put in with all of the best from the Bi-County,” Anderson explained.

Honor band and choir provides the opportunity to perform under a guest conductor. The prestige of the ensembles is not lost on them either.

This year’s high school Honor Band conductor, Jonathan McBride, currently teaches K-12 music and band in Pateros, Washington.

He explained, “I have very fond memories of my first experience coming from a small high school and playing in an honor band for the first time.”

“It was really an eye-opening, exciting experience for me as a student, and I hope I’m able to give a little bit of that back to the students in this honor group,” McBride added.

Since his initial experience in an honor band, McBride went on to compose music—including one of the pieces the high school band will perform.

He continued, “It’s such an honor and so much fun to now get to be the director of this type of group.”

Those with experience in honor band and choir attest to its difficulty. Simultaneously, the musicians involved in the program thrive on the challenge.

“My favorite part of honor choir,” explained soprano Megan Buriak, “is that I get to do something that I enjoy at a challenging level.”

Since LRHS does not have a choir class, honor choir requires extra effort.

Alto vocalist Kennea Estler noted, “I have never been a part of a choir or uniform singing, so Mrs. York and my other peers have been a great influence on me.”

The vocalists find ways to overcome the challenges: “We find any spare moment to practice,” said Estler.

Of the challenges presented by honor band and choir, LRHS band teacher Jennifer York explained, “It takes a lot of work to make an audition… <and> students need to work outside of normal class time to prepare.”

The hard work does not go unnoticed, however: “Having so many students achieve a spot in one of the honor groups is very rewarding, for both the students and myself,” York continues.

Passion is instrumental to the Bi-County Honor Band and Choir, evident each year in the performances. To appreciate the work of student musicians, everyone is invited to attend.

Soprano vocalist Sierra Kiel advocated, “I really enjoy the performance the most because you get to see the final result.”

She continued. “It all comes together in harmony and sounds amazing,”

“I think students, parents and community members would enjoy this concert,” York encouraged. “Like I say at almost every concert, it is so nice to have someone you know in the audience. It gives us someone to play to.”

“Audiences are already used to the sound of their community’s school band,” explained McBride, “but honor band is such a step up from this; it’s a real thrill so see and hear students from your home town in such a large, awesome sounding ensemble!”

Although many attend solely in support of the student musicians, “Hopefully,” McBride concluded, “we provide a <another> great reason: It’s going to be a really good concert!”