Decatur band students earn All Region honors

— Ger Vang and Karole Kowalski, both ninth-grade students at Decatur High School, made the 2012 Junior High All-Region Honor Band, band director Kristin Wages announced last week.

Vang was selected as first chair flute and Kowalski was selected as sixth chair tuba. The Decatur School Board recognized Vang and Kowalski for their accomplishments at a special ceremony at Monday'smeeting.

"They did outstanding considering some of the larger schools in our area," Wages told the school board.

The two students prepared the tryout music for months in advance and auditioned on Dec. 10 at Washington Junior HighSchool in Bentonville, according to Wages. Vang and Kowalski competed with more 70 flutes players and 20 tuba players at the audition, she said.

Vang and Kowalski will now participate in the All-Region Band Clinic/Concert that will be held on the Mountain Home High School campus on Jan. 20-21. The students will rehearse on the first day with a guest conductor and give a concert the following day.

“It will be a very intense, yet very rewarding and fun experience,” Wages said.

School News, Pages 4 on 12/28/2011