December 1 through December 2, Truckee High School hosted the Region Five Honor Band, an intensive two-day event that brought together some of the region’s strongest youth musicians. Students from six different high schools came together to learn a full program of music from scratch, then perform it for friends and parents alike after the second day.
The participating schools included Chester High School, Indian Valley Academy, North Tahoe High School, Portola High School, Quincy High School, and Truckee High School, totaling 85 students. Throughout their time, they rehearsed a diverse set of pieces, from Rossano Galante’s sweeping “The Wolves of Alaska” to Frank Ticheli’s “Portrait of a Clown,” Cait Nishimura’s atmospheric “Breath of the Mountains,” and Pierre La Plante’s jolly “America Riversongs.”
For many musicians, the highlight of the performance was their final piece: David Biedenbender’s “Melodious Thunk.” The quirky, energetic song showcased each instrument uniquely, with percussion and tuba sections in particular shining in a memorable and, without a doubt, charming way.
The students worked under guest conductor Spencer Hannibal-Smith, Operations Manager and Staff Conductor for the University of Nevada, Reno Bands. Hannibal-Smith praised the group’s focus and adaptability through the intensive schedule, telling the audience that the students were “Doing amazing work, dealing with all of my little nuisances,” and adding that they were “A pleasure to work with.” He emphasized how impressive it was for the ensemble to prepare five pieces in their 12 hours of rehearsal time, far less than the typical 20-plus hours high school bands might spend on a concert program.
The experience of working with a new conductor was one of the most valuable aspects of the honor band, “You kind of get used to working with your conductor and all their little quirks,” said Max Danagher, a tenor saxophone player. “It was really interesting to see how a different conductor works. I think that we really put forward what we worked on, and I think that the effort that we put into practice was really shown in our performance.”
Others appreciated both the challenge and the community. “I played pretty fantastic on some songs, and I gave it my all on others, and it was really just a great time,” said Margarite Vachon, who plays first chair French horn. “Getting to hear other players from different areas, see old friends, and get to have a conductor from UNR, because I’ve seen him perform with the college schools, and now I get to perform under him.”
For some, the magic was in the final moments onstage, remarking their favorite part. “[It] probably [was], the actual performance. It was really cool to watch it all come together,” said Olive Masterson, a tuba player.
The Region Five Honor Band showcased not only incredible musical skill but also collaboration, resilience, and the joy of creating something bigger than just one school.
