MHS students to play in regional honor band

For the first time, Maricopa High School band members have been accepted into the Arizona Music Educators Association Central Region Honor Band.

Jessica Garcia, who plays trumpet, and Trista Eckert, who plays the euphonium, participated in a rigorous audition process and will perform at the association’s Central Region Honor Festival Feb. 18 at Mountain View High School in Mesa.

“We have sent students each year for four years to audition and Jessica and Trista are the first to be accepted,” said MHS Music Director Ivan Pour. “It is a huge moment for these students and for our band program to reach this level and have the chance to make it into the all-state band.”

The Central Region Band is a preliminary honor band leading up to the All-State Honor Band that meets and performs in April. Both students will have the opportunity to complete a formal, screened audition — comprised of three etudes, performing scales and sight reading — for admission into the all-state band.

***ADVERTISEMENT***The Central Region Honor Festival is Feb. 17-18. The clinician this year is Sam Pilafian, professor of tuba and euphonium at Arizona State University.

For more information on Maricopa High School visit www.maricopausd.org/MHS or call 520-568-8100. For more information on the Maricopa Unified School District visit www.maricopausd.org or call 520-568-5100.