Record 15 N-O Students Selected For Class C All-State Band

A record-setting 15 Neligh-Oakdale students were selected for Class C All-State Band.

N-O Band director Nate Metschke said this is an impressive number considering Class C had more than 240 auditions from 37 schools this year.

"I'm very proud of the effort these young men and women put into preparing and learning the audition materials to audition for Class C," Metschke said.

Wind Ensemble members are: Celina Knievel, flute; Kelsey Green and Mirissa Hurtig, clarinet; Brittney Marshall, oboe; Brittany McConnell, alto sax; Danae Smith, Nikki Grosserode, Jayda Chance, trombones; and Ben Lingenfelter, tuba; and Symphonic Band members are: Kaylee Chance, flute; Wynter Fulsaas, alto sax; Andrew Sanderson, tenor sax; Zia Moore, french horn; Kasi Grosserode, trumpet; and Blake Heithoff, baritone. 

Metschke said he was worried about the auditions "as we lost lots of preparation time in class working on Class C."

"Our Christmas concert was post-poned from Monday to Thursday, so we lost 3 days there, and then we had 4 late starts in January and lost 2 of those days," he said. "Losing a week of possible time to help my students had me a little apprehensive as to who would make it and who wouldn't."

But Metschke didn't need to worry, as 15 - a record number of Neligh-Oakdale students - were selected for the honor. Ten students were named to the Class C All-State Band last year.

Class C All-State band members will perform on Saturday, March 28 at Kearney High School.  

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