The Gridley students who participated were from left, Christian Harshbarger, Kaiza Quist, Kyleigh Felan, Ethan Hoogeveen and Jay Crabtree. Courtesy photo

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Several talented music students from Gridley had the opportunity to showcase their musical skills at two regional honor bands organized by the California Music Educators Association (CMEA) Northern Section.

These annual events celebrate exceptional student musicians from across a vast region that stretches from Siskiyou County down to Sutter County, and from Trinity County over to Lassen County. The California Music Educators Association Northern Section hosts honor bands for both junior high and high school students, offering an exceptional platform for young musicians to learn, perform and collaborate with others from surrounding areas.

One standout performer was eighth-grader Peyton Quist, a trumpet player at Sycamore Middle School. Peyton was selected through a competitive audition process to join the California Music Educators Association Northern Section Jr. High Honor Band, a group that brings together the top young musicians from across the region. Out of numerous trumpet applicants, Peyton was chosen as one of only 12 trumpet players, earning the impressive position of third chair.

One standout performer was eighth-grader Peyton Quist, a trumpet player at Sycamore Middle School. Courtesy photo

On Jan. 24 and 25, Peyton and the rest of the honor band members rehearsed five pieces of music at California State University, Chico. Their hard work culminated in a performance at the Harlen Adams Theatre on Jan. 25, under the direction of composer and conductor Robert Denham from the Los Angeles area.

In addition to Peyton, five Gridley High School students were selected for the California Music Educators Association Northern Section High School Select Honor Band. These students were chosen based on recommendations from their band directors, with the number of spots available depending on each school’s band size. The Gridley students who participated were Christian Harshbarger, a senior who plays tenor saxophone; Kaiza Quist, a senior clarinet player; Kyleigh Felan, a sophomore trumpet player; Ethan Hoogeveen, a freshman bass clarinet player; and Jay Crabtree, a freshman alto saxophone player.

The high school honor band spent two days, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, rehearsing at Butte College before performing in the Butte College Black Box Theater on Feb. 1. The group was conducted by Dr. Angelina Gomez, the newly-appointed director of bands at Chico State University, who guided the students through a rigorous and rewarding experience.

Both events highlighted the exceptional talent and dedication of Gridley’s young musicians and served as a testament to the strength of the district’s music programs. These honor band opportunities provide a platform for students to demonstrate their musical abilities and offer invaluable experiences that contribute to their growth as musicians.