Thirty-nine Lakewood Ranch High School band students earned seats in the School District of Manatee County All-County Honor Band after blind auditions, according to the school. Nine of those students claimed first-chair positions in their instrument groups.

The All-County Honor Band covers 16 instrument groups. Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) students took the top chair in more than half of them.

"I am extremely proud of all of our band members who auditioned and earned a chair in the SDMC All-County Honor Band," band director Dr. John Wilkerson said in the school's Oct. 29 announcement. "The band members prepared for weeks and truly embraced the process."

First-chair students

The nine first-chair honorees span all four class years:

  • Kaitlyn Wolfe, junior, flute
  • Anneliese Schroeder, freshman, oboe
  • Abigail Wilkerson, sophomore, bassoon
  • Allison Rothhaar, junior, bass clarinet
  • Bella Harmon, senior, contrabass clarinet
  • Norah Hoyt, junior, tenor saxophone
  • Maria Caporaso, senior, baritone saxophone
  • Sydney Cross, senior, trumpet
  • Nicolas Villegas, freshman, percussion

Cross also serves as head drum major for the 117-member marching band.

A fall of trophies

The Honor Band results cap a strong fall competition season. The Marching Mustangs won the Class 4A Championship at the Seminole Sound Spectacular, sweeping awards for music, visual, general effect, percussion and color guard, according to a separate school announcement.

At the Naples Outdoor Marching Band Competition on Oct. 3, the band placed second overall across all classes and won the Class 4A title, according to the school's recap. Wilkerson noted the band competed as a 117-member Class 4A program against Palmetto Ridge's 220-member Class 6A program.

The band then hosted its own 22nd Annual Music in Motion competition, placing third overall while again winning the Class 4A championship with a season-high score of 78.15, according to the school's account.

25-year streak

The LRHS marching band has earned superior ratings for 25 consecutive years at the Florida Bandmasters Association's Marching Band Music Performance Assessment (MPA), according to the school.

What's next

The band is scheduled to perform at the Braden River Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit (FFCC) Regional on Nov. 7 and the FFCC State Championships on Nov. 15, according to the school. The band is also set to serve as the honor band at the Anna Maria Island Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 11.