539 Students Participate In 5th- & 6th-Grade Honor Band

Thirty schools, including all Antelope County schools, made up the 539 students from across the area participating in the 6th annual Neligh-Oakdale 5th- and 6th-Grade Honor Band on Saturday.

Neligh-Oakdale, Clearwater-Orchard, Elgin, Elkhorn Valley and St. Boniface all sent students to the unprecedented event.

Neligh-Oakdale band director Nate Metschke said the event was the largest in the school's history and was a complete success from start to finish.

The fifth-grade was directed by Michael Sindt of Pierce, where he teaches 5th-12th. He is currently in his 14th year serving in the 43rd Army Band in Lincoln and is in his 16th year at Pierce.

Chad Barnhill of Norfolk directed the percussion ensemble. He owns Midwest Music Center and sits on the board for the Norfolk Area Concert Association.

Carrie Jensen of Wayne directed the 6th-grade band. She maintains an active performing schedule, including the Wayne State College Symphonic Band, Wayne State College Orchestra, Siouxland All American Concert Band and is a substitute for the Sioux City Municipal Band. She has taught at Wayne Community Schools since 2009.

Schools participating in the honor band were Bassett, Battle Creek, Bloomfield, Boone Central, Breckenridge, Chambers, Clearwater-Orchard, Creighton, Elgin, Elkhorn Valley, Ewing, Greely-Wolbach/North Loup-Scotia, Loup City, Lyons-Decatur, Madison, Neligh-Oakdale, Norfolk Catholic, O'Neill, Osmond, Palmer, Pender, Plainview, Randolph, Spalding Academy, St. Boniface, Stanton, Stuart, Wausa, West Point-Beemer and Wheeler Central.