DUNN — Twelve students from Sampson County’s Midway area recently earned All-District Band honors.

The All-District Band Students from Midway High School include Ryan Godwin, Mackenzie Chavis, Kristine Kolakowski, Zachary Warren, Stephen Carroll, Brayden Coats, Dylan Hickok, and Luke Hazlebeck. Midway Middle School students are Cullen Faircloth, Janyia Coxum, Alana Rozier and Alyssa Cook.

Band Director Joshua Tew said the amount of students selected are continuing to increase. He’s proud of the feat.

“It’s kind of a personal accomplishment for each one,” Tew said. “They had a goal and I’m happy to see them succeed and be successful with it.”

Tew added that it “requires a lot self-discipline and practice at home,” he said about the preparation. “Those students would go the extra mile and work at home a lot.”

To become better musicians, students would come to the school and practice before their first classes. He added that a clinic with professors from Methodist University was also beneficial in preparing Midway students. It was made possible through the Simple Gifts Fund, a local philanthropic organization.

The Southeastern district includes more than 15 counties. Selected students will rehearse rigorous music together in a clinic and practice for about two days. Next, a concert is scheduled for the musicians.

“When they go to this thing, it’s the top kids from everywhere,” he said. “They get to play harder music and the instrumentation is perfect because they audition for those slots. It’s a higher level of everything for them and I think they really enjoy that and it’s a challenge.”

Chavis, Kolakowski, Warren, Coats, Hickok, Hazleback and Faircloth are eligible to try out for the All-State Band in March.

Tew believes the experience will improve the talent level of local bands too.

“When they go and participate in those type of things, it increases our ability level here at home, just because they bring back those experiences,” he said.

Eight students from Midway High School recently earned All-District honors. The students are Ryan Godwin, Mackenzie Chavis, Kristine Kolakowski, Zachary Warren, Stephen Carroll, Brayden Coats, Dylan Hickok, and Luke Hazlebeck. They are pictured with Director Joshua Tew.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_MidwayBand.jpgEight students from Midway High School recently earned All-District honors. The students are Ryan Godwin, Mackenzie Chavis, Kristine Kolakowski, Zachary Warren, Stephen Carroll, Brayden Coats, Dylan Hickok, and Luke Hazlebeck. They are pictured with Director Joshua Tew.
A dozen Raiders selected for honors

By Chase Jordan

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