Pizitz Middle School students earn All-State Band Honors

The Pizitz Symphonic Band was selected to perform at the College Band Directors National Association Conference at the University of North Florida in Feb. The band is one of just two middle school bands selected from the United States to perform at this regional conference.

 Additionally, nine Pizitz band students were awarded a seat in the All-State Honors Band during the All-State Band competition at Hoover High School in January.

Making the All-State Band is the highest award a middle school band student can receive. Area music educators judge the competition. Students selected were Zachary Chou, Turner Hamilton, Robert Smith, McKinley Owens, Kunai Tiwari, Christofer Miller, Grayton Hodge, Lauren Nelson and Andrew Pahos.

Also during this competition, 31 Pizitz band students placed in the District Honor Band.

District Honor Band students are Yasha Kulkarni, Zachary Chou, Jenny Coe, Morgan Prater, Rohith Vuribindi, Yihon Zhong, Maggie Hargrove, Hunter Jones, Turner Hamilton, Stephen Michaels, Richard Fu, Sam Henderson, Robert Smith, Nelson Mills, Owen Porter, Meredith Grantham, McKinley Owens, Sean Rainer, Josh Mather, Luke McBrayer, Robbie Strong, Joseph Harper, Kunal Tiwari, Alex Freeburg, Christofer Miller, Grayton Hodge, Emmett Fernekes, Krishnana Raju, Walter Zhang, Lauren Nelson and Andrew Pahos.

—Submitted by Catherine Horton