Submitted photo

Pictured (from left) is Band Director Darren Jackson, and New Haven Elementary students who received a superior rating for their musical performances, Brandon Duncan, Cooper Peters, C.T. Sayre, and Grace Haddox. Not pictured is Allison Jewel.

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HUNTINGTON — Much like an athlete competing for the top prize, several young musicians from New Haven Elementary School recently performed at Marshall University’s annual Solo and Ensemble Festival and received a superior rating.

Following several hours of rehearsals, the five students competing from New Haven Elementary included Brandon Duncan, who performed a trombone solo; Grace Haddox and Allison Jewell, who performed an alto saxophone and clarinet duet; Cooper Peters, who performed a snare drum solo; and C.T. Sayre, who performed a trumpet solo. All five of the New Haven students received a superior rating.

According to Band Director Darren Jackson, band students from Wahama High School annually participate in this event, but this was the first time in several years, perhaps even the first time ever, that students from New Haven Elementary have competed.

According to Jackson, all of the Wahama band students who also performed at the festival received a superior rating as well. Those Wahama band members included Kelsey McDaniel and Jourdan Scott, who both performed trumpet solos, Steven Gibbs who performed a marimba solo, Amy Lewis who performed a clarinet solo, and Nikki Gibbs and Lauren Fields who performed an alto saxophone duet.