JHS BAND STUDENTS EARN ALL-STATE HONORS

Four Jackson High School students have been selected to the Missouri All-State Band, the top honor band in the state. Only 104 of nearly 1,000 students auditioning were accepted in the ensemble, which will perform at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference held Wednesday through Saturday at Tan-Tar-A Resort, Lake of the Ozarks.

Bill Schwent, a junior trombone player, was selected for the third year to the ensemble. He is the son of Timothy and Patricia Schwent and is a member of the Marching Chiefs, pep band, symphonic band and handbell choir. Other memberships include the National Honor Society and Spanish club. He has been named to the Southeast Missouri All-District Band for the past four years and the All-District Jazz Band for three years. He recently toured Europe with the Missouri Ambassadors of Music as first chair trombonist in both the band and jazz band. He plans to major in engineering at the University of Missouri at Columbia.

Brad Mirly, a senior bassoon player, was named to the All-State band for the second time. The son of Tom and Terry Mirly, he is a member of the Marching Chiefs, pep band, and symphonic bands at high school, as well as the orchestra at Southeast Missouri State University, the National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America. He has been selected for the All-District band for the past five years and plans to major in computer science at Southwest Missouri State University.

Matt Palisch, a senior euphonium player, has been a member of the All-District band for five years. This was his first All-State selection. The son of John and Pat Palisch, he is a member of the Marching Chiefs, pep band, symphonic band, handbell choir, National Honor Society and Spanish club. He is vice president of both the band and FBLA, and recently toured Europe with the Missouri Ambassadors of Music as first chair euphonium. He plans to major in agribusiness and music at Southeast Missouri State University.

Jon Reno, a senior alto saxophonist, was selected as alternate alto saxophone for the band. The son of Danny and Desma Reno, he has been a member of the All-District band for five years and the All-District Jazz Band for three years. His memberships include Marching Chiefs, pep band, symphonic band and jazz band, as well as National Honor Society, Spanish club and FBLA. He plans to major in engineering at the University of Missouri at Rolla.

The Jackson High School band directors are Patricia Schwent, Scott Vangilder and Tom Broussard.