by Dustyn Winterton, GHS Blue Ink
On Monday, March 22, Garretson School held the Honor Band Festival. The schools that attended were Baltic, Howard, McCook, and Sioux Valley.
Students from Garretson included Abrianna Doppenberg, Lauren Fick, Alexa Draper, Seth Peterson, Sage Solheim, and Evan Debates.
When asked how students were chosen Nick Sittig said that band directors from each school picked students that they thought would be great for the honor band. The students must have been a section leader for their own band, been in another honor band, or tried out for All-State band.”
He was also asked about precautions they took and he said, “All band students were spread out 6 ft apart and had bell covers on their instruments, they also had masks on except for during the concert.” He also said “any bands that did not attend were due to Covid restrictions or scheduling complications but all in all it was a success."
They played songs such as “The Star-Spangled Banner”, “Amparito Roca”, “Aces of the Air”, “Fate of the Gods", and “Ye Banks and Braes O’ Bonnie Doon”.
Also on March 26 and 27, Abrianna Doppenberg participated in All State Band. This was not her first year participating in All State but her first year in High School All State. The last time Garretson Schools had a student in All State Band was back in 2002 or 2003.
Doppenberg said, “The reason I decided to audition was because I had done it in middle school.” She also said, “My favorite part was the challenging songs and I learned that I need to get better at practicing.”
