By: Aiyana Moore ~Staff Writer~

The Xavier community welcomed to campus a variety of high school students who all shared a love of music from Jan. 16-17.

These students selected from Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, came together to form Xavier University’s first ever Honor Band.

“The High School Honor Band is a fantastic way for us to increase our visibility as a band and music program in the tri-state area and to bring many talented students to our campus,” Jim Daughters, the interim director of Instrumental Activities, said.

In order for a student to be considered in a position for the Honor Band, high school band directors were asked to nominate the students that they believed to be most deserving.

“Once students are nominated, we selected students based on band director and private teacher recommendations and work to have a balanced ensemble,” Daughters said.

Students arrived to campus on Jan. 16, when they rehearsed frequently for their concert on Jan. 17 in the Gallagher Student Center Theater.

“One of the challenges of putting together an Honor Band is finding music that will fit the students that we can prepare in the very short time that we have,”
Dr. Terence Milligan, the concert’s guest conductor from the University of Cincinnati, said. The Honor Band performed several orchestral pieces, one of which was David Holsinger’s “Havendance.”

“Just at the time that they feel comfortable with what they’re doing, he changes things a little bit and so he puts things on its edge,” Milligan said. “The piece is really demanding, but these students have risen to the challenge and have done an extremely fine job of putting this piece together.” The band also played Frank Erickson’s “Air for Band” and a piece by Gustav Holst. The Honor Band closed the show by a playing “America the Beautiful.” “The song is more than just a song about the country. It’s about all of us together,” Milligan said.