Sterling College will host its second annual Honor Band Day on Thursday, Jan. 8, welcoming outstanding high school musicians from across central Kansas for a day of rehearsal and a culminating public concert.

Directed and organized by Sterling College Band Director Larry Brownlee, the Honor Band brings together select students nominated by their home schools for musical excellence, leadership, and achievement. The event will conclude with a free public concert at 3 p.m. in Culbertson Auditorium on the Sterling College campus. The concert will also be livestreamed on the Sterling College Music Facebook page, allowing families and supporters to participate remotely.

Fourteen schools are participating in this year’s Honor Band Day: Sterling, Lyons, Ellsworth, Clearwater, Hugoton, South Haven, Central Christian Academy (Wichita), Hillsboro, Otis-Bison, Buhler, Pretty Prairie, La Crosse, Minneola, and Ad Astra Academy.

Schools submitted student nominations along with detailed information, including each student’s chair placement in their school band, participation in district or state honor bands, solo or ensemble performances at state music festivals, and a director’s recommendation. From approximately 115 nominated students, 76 were selected based on instrumentation needs and the overall strength of each application.

“We are excited to be able to host this honor band for the second year,” Brownlee said. “Last year’s band was exceptional and provided a great experience for everyone involved. The music for this year’s ensemble will be challenging, but exciting, and it will showcase the talent and dedication of these students.”

The concert repertoire reflects a wide range of styles and technical demands. The program includes Stardance, one of the most unique and challenging selections, which opens with performers spread throughout the auditorium; Clouds That Sail in Heaven, an energetic arrangement based on the hymn All Creatures of Our God and King; How to Train Your Dragon, a dynamic arrangement from the animated film; and In Paths of Truth and Grace, a lyrical setting of the hymn My Shepherd Will Supply My Needs.

Sterling College’s Honor Band Day provides high school musicians the opportunity to rehearse and perform in a collegiate setting while collaborating with peers from across the region. The event also reflects Sterling College Music’s ongoing commitment to supporting music education and celebrating excellence in the performing arts.