GMS students chosen for All-State

Published 10:07 am Monday, February 14, 2011

These Greenville Middle School band members are now proud All-District Honor Band participants. They were chosen as among the best in District VIII, comprised of 13 counties. The 12 students will be competing at All-District later this month in Eufaula. Top row from the left: Devin Gavin, Mary Margaret LeCoq, Austin Burgans, Jonathon Jones, Dedric Owens, Steiner Hamilton. Bottom Row From Left: Laun Pryor, Jewel Windham, Luther Phelps, Dejah Bedgood, Anna Lee Newton. LeCoq, Hamilton and Gavin were selected for the All-State Honor Band.

Three Greenville Middle School students have earned a high honor for their musical abilities.

Seventh graders Devin Gavin and Mary Margaret LeCoq and Steiner Hamilton, an eighth grader, were recently selected for the All-State Honor Band.

Devin has been playing the trombone for three years in the band, while Mary Margaret has performed on the alto sax for three years and Steiner as a percussionist for four years.

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“This is our first time to make All-State and that’s pretty exciting,” said Devin.

He and Mary Margaret were chosen for All-District last year (Steiner did not participate in last year’s competition).

Mary Margaret said her favorite piece of music to play is one she is currently working on, “Handel’s Sonata #6.”

Devin prefers “Serengeti Dreams” and “Rondo.”

As for Steiner, “well—I like it all!” He said with a grin.

All three of the GMS students plan to go on and play in the high school marching band at GHS.

“I am very proud of these students. We had a strong showing at District and to have students going to All-State for the first time in nine or ten years—that’s really an accomplishment,” said Chris Pryor, GMS band director.

The three students will be going to the State Competition in Mobile April 14-16.

Those students who made All-District—the best of the best in the 13 counties of District VIII—will go on to District Honor Band Competition February 25-26 in Eufaula.