VALDOSTA — Valdosta Middle School was well represented at last weekend’s annual Georgia Music Educators Association District 8 Middle School All-District Band in Kingsland. Forty VMS students were selected to attend after auditioning in December. Fourteen of those students made all-district honor band and 26 students made all district concert band.

“We were delighted to have more than three times as many students selected as any other middle school in the district,” says VMS band director Gary Bradley. He and assistant band director Travis Downs encourage students to try out for the honor bands and teach them the fundamentals necessary to be successful in auditions.

“That’s the reason we had so many students involved in this year’s event,” Bradley says. “Unlike other programs, we strive to give our students the opportunity to excel individually as well as with the full band, by participating in all activities offered for students at the middle school level.”

This year’s GMEA event included 19 middle school bands from throughout southeast Georgia. It featured guest conductors Mickey Fisher, Berry College, Rome; Connie Hammond, Thompson Middle School band director, Alabaster, Ala.

VMS ALL-DISTRICT HONOR BAND: Jasmine Emanuel, Bailey Hurst, Sala Prain, flute; Shaeyla Davis, bassoon; Claire Hanson, K’Miya Moore, clarinet; Rachel Flucas, alto sax; Nick Cannady, Joe Lin, trumpet; Robin Guice, Josh Jenkins, trombone; Darren Riser, tuba; Brandon Williams, Priscilla Williams, percussion.

VMS ALL-DISTRICT CONCERT BAND: Amanda Lee, flute; Tia Keuma, oboe; Kitra Cates (first chair) Elicia Fricke, Chantelle McLeish, Toni Christopher, Jasmine Carter, Savannah Plumley, Jediah Gray, Alexis Anderson, Kayce Wilkerson, Zephaneah McCray, Hillary Griffin, clarinet; E.J. Smith, baritone sax; Chaker Fares (first chair), Melissa Bowles, alto sax; Kreshon McDowell, Jarvis Battle, Hiram McNair, Cris Escalera, Zach Justice, trombone; Harley Hendricks (first chair), euphonium; Christopher Carter, tuba; Artianna Singleton (section leader), Brandon Hughley, Alex Thomas, percussion.