High notes: SHS to be represented in Missouri All-State Band

Saturday, January 14, 2017

SIKESTON -- Two Sikeston High School seniors are among 110 high students selected to the Missouri All-State Band. Julius Hoang and Malik Barnett will both perform at the State Music Convention later this month. Hoang made third chair trumpet and will make his second appearance at the state level. He was also selected for the elite ensemble his sophomore year. Barnett was selected as first alternate for baritone at the state level. However, he was also selected for the All-State Choir. Since both All-State Band and Choir concerts are performed at the same convention, Barnett will perform with the All-State Choir instead of the band. On Dec. 3, 2016, over 1,400 students from across Missouri met at Hickman High School in Columbia to audition for the honor of participating in the top honor band in the state. The band will meet, rehearse and perform at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference held Jan. 25 through Jan. 28 at Tan-Tar-A Resort in the Lake of the Ozarks. Other local high school students who made the All-State Band include Allison Statler, a junior at Bloomfield High School for the flute; and Emily Johns, a senior at Dexter High School for the french horn. "They're phenomenal," SHS Band Director Darren Steelman said of his students. "I've been teaching both of them in band since seventh grade. They are so driven and determined. They work their tails off. They work hard and are extremely talented." Both Hoang and Barnett agreed band is their favorite class. Band -- also choir in Barnett's case -- is the most exciting part of their school days, the seniors said. SHS band is also under the direction of Kim Whitehead. Hoang said he learned from participating previously at the state level to get more sleep. Band members have long rehearsals and spend other time listening to concerts from some of the best bands in the state. It's a busy weekend, to say the least, he said. "You're getting very competitive people," Barnett said about the state ensemble. "At All-Districts, you see the level of skill out there." And that level intensifies even more at the state level, he said. The hours and hours of rehearsing and practicing this year and all of those leading up to this one pay off, the students said. Barnett and Hoang have already made a name for themselves academically this year. Hoang scored a perfect score of 36 on the ACT exam while Barnett has been accepted to Yale University. Hoang, who is the son of Dinh Hoang and Yen Hoang, is a member of FBLA, NHS, Skills USA and marching band. Outside of playing the trumpet, he said his hobbies include playing video games and tennis and learning to play the piano. Barnett, who is the son of Myron and Tiffany Hardin, is the section leader of the Chamber Choir, FBLA voting chairman and parliamentarian, Link Crew leader, and he's served as class vice president for three years, president of the National Honors Society, college ambassador, member of Band Council and Foreign Language Club. In addition to singing and playing baritone, in his spare time he enjoys working; playing the piano, trumpet and french horn; and reading. The Missouri All-State Band will perform at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 28, Salon A of the Tan-Tar-A Resort. in Lake of the Ozarks.

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