Ray Band at Easter Arizona College.
On April 16, the music department of Eastern Arizona College (EAC) hosted its 57th annual High School Honor Band, Honor Choir and Honor Orchestra Festival, which was attended by the Ray Unified School District High School Band (RHS Band). This EAC event began in 1968 as a means of providing rehearsal and performance experience to high school students, which they can take back to their own schools.
At this event, RHS Band were the only one, out of 15 participating bands, to receive Superior, which is the highest rating to be achieved. Coming from a school that is approximately 20 times smaller in size of student body than the schools it was up against, that is quite a feat.
Roxanna Fuerstenberg stated on the Ray High School Live Feed about the RHS Band, “To say that I’m proud of my students is a huge understatement! I am incredibly blessed with such a talented group, but they aren’t just talented. They are wonderful human beings and have amazing work ethic. These musicians work their tails off every day in class. Many stay after school, come in during lunch, come in when they get done early in other classes, and practice a lot at home.”
Fuerstenberg continued, “When you see these students out and about, please congratulate them and remind them how awesome they are. I am so blessed to be their teacher. Also, a special thank you to Geoff DeSpain for always putting on such wonderful festivals and competitions at EAC for our students. We have a blast every time we are there.”
Geoff DeSpain is the EAC band director, music professor, and coordinator of the event, who, like Roxanne Fuerstenberg, seems to be equally highly rated by the students.
Great job, students! Great job, teachers and professors!
