8 students attend Kansas State Honor Band Clinic

Last weekend eight students from Marion High School band students joined 630 others from across the state to participate in the Kansas State University Honor Band Clinic.

Students auditioned for a place in one of six honor bands with 100 members apiece. Two, John Lind and Caitlyn Maloney, made it into the top band.

“It was very time intensive and musically challenging,” Caitlyn Maloney said. “To see yourself get through a challenging piece so quickly and progress was unlike anything else.”

Alicia Maloney won most outstanding musician award and received a $500 scholarship.

“It was amazing to play with other members who are good and a clinician who knew music as well as he did,” she said.

She plans on attending K-State and being a member of the concert band.

“It was a fantastic weekend for my students and they had a blast,” band director Chris Barlow said.

This is the second year Barlow has taken students to the clinic. He submits the names to K-State in November, and the college chooses who will attend from that list.

“It was a really cool experience to be with so many other people who were good musicians,” Quinton Hett said. “It was awe inspiring.”

Aidan Cairns said it was wonderful to play with a group of students who were as passionate about music as her.

Those who participated were Aidan Cairns, trombone; Quinton Hett, trumpet; Adam Kjellin, French horn; John Lind, trombone; Alicia Maloney, clarinet; Caitlyn Maloney, saxophone; Sarah Tajchman, clarinet; and Kaylie Waner, trumpet.