Yerger Middle School

HOPE – The Hope Public Schools Bands Program showcased its student talent April 26 on stage at Hempstead Hall on the University of Arkansas-Hope campus with its annual spring bands concert.\r\n

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Hope Bands Director Julie Gladden expressed her appreciation for the student and parental support.\r\n

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“Without you, we would not be here,” Gladden said. “And, these students have worked so, so hard this year; it’s amazing to see how far many of them have come.”\r\n

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Beginning band sections presented sectional pieces which offered a look at key elements of musicianship learned through the year. The Hope Academy of Public Service sixth and eighth grade groups performed four pieces, including “Oye, Como Va,” “Go Tell Aunt Rhody,” “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” and “Hey, Ho! Nobody’s Home.”\r\n

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 Gladden recognized HAPS sixth grade students Abimael Lopez, best in class woodwinds; Wesley Smith, best in class brass; Jasmine Brito, most improved; and, Emily Garcia, Katie Howard, Stephanie Leija, and Lili-Ann Adamson, Bobcat Award winners.\r\n

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HAPS eighth grade honors went to Millie Arroyo, best in class woodwinds; Aaliyah Washington, best in class brass; Trenton Hart and Shelby Gilbert, most improved; and, Edith Dominguez, Wynter Smith, Nadia Longoria, Ana Alvarez, Bethany White, Olivia Adams, and Savannah Adams, Bobcat Award.\r\n

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Beryl Henry Elementary beginning band woodwinds performed “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star;” brass performed “Hot Cross Buns;” and, trumpets performed “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”\r\n

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The combined beginning bands from HAPS and BHE performed “Havana,” and “Hard Rock Blues.”\r\n

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BHE beginning band honors were awarded to Olivia Newsom, best in class flute; Garciela Perez, most improved flute; Maria Perez, best in class saxophone; Victor Serrano, most improved saxophone; Jesse Hernandez, best in class clarinet; Johnnaya Griffin, most improved clarinet; Chaniya Williams, best in class trumpet; Lanod Westmoreland, most improved trumpet; Kevianna Allen, best in class trombone; Aldaid Lara, most improved trombone; Kassidy Wingfield, best in class euphonium; Honesti Poole, most improved euphonium; Shabreea Davis, best in class tuba; John Palmer, most improved tuba; Kalen Cheatham, best in class percussion; and, Heavenlee West, most improved percussion.\r\n

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BHE beginning band Bobcat Awards went to Kamron Blanchett, Issac Hellums, Kimberly Contreras, Olivia Newsom, Marlie Radar, Yusely Martinez, Jennifer Gomez, Haydee Calderon, Jessie Hernandez, Franchesca Hill, Johnnaya Griffin, and Jodie Hill.\r\n

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Also, Chaniya Williams, Jasmin Griffith, Lanod Westmoreland, Romelo Ford, Stacey Modisett, Shabreea Davis, Honesti Poole, Evan Himes, James Artis, Aldaid Lara, Kenadi Phillips, Quartavis Muldrew, Shania Davis, Kassidy Wingfield, Dallas Corbett, Kevianna Allen, and Tymesha Armstrong.\r\n

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The Yerger Middle School Band performed three pieces, including “Majestica,” “Russian Sailor’s Dance,” and “Sound and the Fury.”  The YMS band was rated “good” in its recent regional concert contest performance of the last two selections, Gladden said.\r\n

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YMS third period honors went to Merlyn Wahyudi, best in class woodwind; Illesha Morris, best in class brass; and Iris Alvarado and Maliyah Richardson, Bobcat Awards. YMS sixth period honors were given to Brandon Gallegos, best in class woodwind; Jimmy Paredes, best in class brass; Krystal Vasquez, best in class percussion; Ilan Mejia, most improved; and, Rebekah Fulton, Markayla Hall, Adrian Yepez, T’khyah Walker, Chadrick Noble, Jayden Aiken-Nolen, and Dakota Mckamie, Bobcat Award.\r\n

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The Hope High School Concert Band performed three pieces, including “Valley Forge March,” “El Relicario,” and “Fireball,” for which the band received an “excellent” rating in recent regional concert competition.\r\n

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HHS honors went to Justice Glenn, best in class woodwind; Abraham Brito, best in class brass; Damien Richmond, best in class percussion; Antonio Juanes, most improved; Ke’Ara Key, best freshman woodwind; and, Joshua Johnson, best freshman brass.\r\n

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HHS Bobcat Awards were given to Shardae Reynolds, Yajahira Dominguez, Brandon Maxfield, Kevin Morales, Ja’Marrion Logan, D’Shawn Brown, Luis Azanza, Antonio Juanes, and Lawrence Adetunji.\r\n

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The combined HHS/YMS band performed a special selection in memory of the late Stephonia Casteel-Terry, a teacher at Yerger Middle School, who passed away suddenly this year. The tribute, entitled “Forever,” was followed by a moment of silence.\r\n