Band members from Fairfax, Rock Port, and Tarkio high school bands joined their sounds and skills for the 69th annual Atchison County Band Day concert Monday, February 5, 2024, in the Fairfax High School Gym. The first county band day was held in 1955. This year’s group was led by guest conductor Ed Roberts.

Mr. Roberts enjoyed a very successful career in Fairfax where he taught from 1967-68. He also taught at Tarkio from 1968-69 and 1971-80 and then in Harrisonville, Missouri, where he retired in 2000. His bands have performed at district and state conventions, five bowl games, for President Reagan, the Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington, D.C., and music festivals throughout the Midwest. Ed is a Vietnam veteran, serving as the NCOIC of the 101st  Airborne Band and had the honor of working with the 1970 Bob Hope Show. He is published nationally and was selected to the Missouri Bandmasters “Hall of Fame.” He is a clinician/adjudicator throughout the Midwest. Ed is married to Gail Emrick (formerly of Fairfax) and they have two grown children, Jeff Roberts and Melissa (Scott) Potter, and two grandsons, Jack and Alex. Ed was honored to conduct this performance and the community members were excited to welcome him back.

For the concert, the band performed the following: “Star Spangled Banner,” arranged by David Shaffer; “The Thunderer,” John Phillip Sousa and arranged by Jay Bocook; “A Thousand Years,” arranged by Paul Murtha; “America The Beautiful,” arranged by Robert W. Smith; “Meant to Be,” arranged by Michael Story; and “Stars and Stripes Forever,” John Phillip Sousa and arranged by Mike Story.

Band members include Tarkio (T), Fairfax (F), Rock Port (RP):

• Flutes – Danika Agnew (T), Dalaynie Drummond (T), Bresayda Jimenez (T), Amelia Larson (F), Alisha Lomax (RP), Abby Minino (RP), Anna Ohlensehlen (F), Lily Pankau (RP), Mya Welch (RP), Bailey Wennihan (T), Delainee White (T), Lily Wilroy (RP), and Alyson Wooten (T)

• Clarinets – Lexi Brown (F), Kambry Bullock (T), Haylee Clark (T), Audrey Dougherty (RP),  Abbie Harms (T), Addison Noland (T), and Brooklyn Wennihan (T)

• Bass clarinet – Erin Eyman (F)

• Alto saxophones – Cole Anderson (T), Emily Gebhards (T), Jina Harbit (T), Velicity Hegstrom (T), Emmy Laur (T), Connor Miller (F), Cowen O’Riley (F), Chase Pearson (T), and Chloe Vernon (F)

• Tenor saxophones – Kamryn Brown (T) and Jaymes Herron (RP)

• Baritone saxophone – Joaquin Hill (F)

• Baritones – KayDee Duering (F), Kendall Kingery (F), and Olivia Schaefer (T)

• Trombones – Gabe Harms (T), Mason Kingery (F), Trent Kingery (F), and Alex Schuster (RP)

• Trumpets – Alex Barnett (T), Sydnee Bruns (T), Jozee Eaton (T), Teahen Hannah (T), Austin Helfers (F), Finn Hurst (T), Ryan Lucas (RP), Lizzie Schlueter (T), and Quin Staten (T)

• Tubas – Owen DeRosier -TK, Brentyn Herron (RP), and Johnny Pickard (F)

• Percussion – Alexis Bywater (T), Grace Caudill (T), Anden Cohn (RP), River Dow (T), Trent Frohn (F), Chase Gayler (F), Kenneth Kirkpatrick (F), Claire Miller (RP), Luke Morey (T), Connor Morton (T), Arianna Shimmel (RP), Ian Stepp (T), Sophia Storm (RP), Luke Swinehart (F), Clayton Vernon (F), Isaac Vette (T), and Brody Wennihan (T)

Seniors performing included: Alex Barnett, Alexis Bywater, Dalaynie Drummond, Jozee Eaton, Brentyn Herron, Trent Kingery, Emmy Laur, Alisha Lomax, Abby Minino, Addison Noland, Ian Stepp, and Brooklyn Wennihan.

Students recognized for qualifying for Four State Honor Band were: Audrey Dougherty, Abbie Harms, Brentyn Herron, Amelia Larson, Ryan Lucas, and Addison Noland.

Audrey Dougherty, Alisha Lomax, Abby Minino, and Sophia Storm were recognized for qualifying for Four State Honor Choir.

Recognition was also given to Amelia Larson, who participated in the National FFA Band.

The students are directed by Melody Barnett and Nathaniel Wehmeyer (Tarkio), Abby Palmer (Rock Port), and Debra Wyatt (Fairfax). Mrs. Barnett has been teaching music for 19 years and began her teaching career at Lewis & Clark Elementary in Liberty. She currently is the K-12 vocal director at Tarkio where she has taught for 15 years. Mr. Wehmeyer has been teaching band for 13 years. He got started at Winston and had a tenure there of three years, then seven years at Maryville, and is currently in year three at Tarkio. Mrs. Palmer has been teaching music for 12 years and began her teaching career at Rich Hill, Missouri. She currently is the 5-12 band director and 7-12 vocal director at Rock Port R-II School District, where she has taught for 10 years. Ms. Wyatt started and has been teaching music for 22 years at Fairfax R-3 School District. She teaches Preschool-12 vocal and instrumental music.