Dragons band members honored with ETSBOA selections
Clinton High School band members were selected for the East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association All East Senior Clinic held at the Park Vista Hotel in Gatlinburg. Back row (from left): Aiden Hepworth, Isabella Rice, David Holt, Gavin Clock, Nathan Angel, Sara Boundy and Noah Berg. Front row: Sophia Tiption
Matthew Bimstein, Clinton High School Band director, said four students earned a place in the ETSBOA All East Jazz Clinic at Walker Valley High School in Cleveland.
“The clinic brings the best high school jazz students together in East Tennessee to work with guest clinicians and perform a concert,” said Bimstein, noting that students went through a rigorous audition process in November and attended the clinic in January.
The students selected for this clinic were senior Trey Meredith, baritone saxophone; senior David Holt, bass trombone; junior Isabella Rice, tenor saxophone; and junior Aiden Hepworth, baritone saxophone.
Many students were also chosen for the ETSBOA All East Senior Clinic held at the Park Vista Hotel in Gatlinburg, Brimstein said.
This clinic, which brings the best overall high school band students together in East Tennessee, consisted of an audition in January and the clinic and concert performance in February.
Eight students were selected: senior David Holt, ninth chair 11-12 Red Band on trombone; junior Isabella Rice, eighth chair 11-12 Blue Band on alto saxophone; junior Aiden Hepworth, second chair 11-12 Red Band tenor saxophone; freshman Nathan Angel, 13th chair 9-10 Red Band on flute; junior Sophia Tipton, 21st chair 11-12 Red Band on clarinet; sophomore Gavin Clock, 10th chair 9-10 Blue Band on trumpet; senior Sara Boundy, 13th chair 11-12 Blue Band on flute; and senior Noah Berg, first chair 11-12 Red Band percussion.
Bimstein applauded these students for their hard work.
“These accomplishments reflect the work ethic, commitment, perseverance, passion and dedication these students have for music,” he said.
“A lot of these students are taking AP classes [and] dual-enrollment classes, [and] work jobs, attend middle college and have other outside responsibilities out of school, but yet are still able to find time to practice their music to make these honor bands.”
In addition to the ETSBOA clinics, the Clinton High School band earned various awards at the 40th annual Volunteer Classic Marching Band Festival in October at Heritage High School.
Out of the eight bands in its class, the CHS band placed first in percussion, second in color guard and first overall with superior ratings, Bimstein said.
“We also placed second overall out of 21 competing bands,” he said.
For more information about the Clinton High School band, visit clintonband.com.
You can also follow the CHS band on Facebook (facebook.com/clintonband) and Instagram (instagram.com/clintonhighdragonband).
