Students shine in honor band performance

Almost 100 kids filled the Berg Middle School stage for the 2025 Jasper County Honor Band. Showing off their skills on musical instruments, the kids put on a show-stopping performance, no fooling, on April 1.

The band was led by guest director Lynnville-Sully Middle School Band Director Brenna Hamborg. Students from all six county schools participated in the 51st edition of the honor band.

“The students were awesome to work with. I had such a fun time working with all of them,” Hamborg said. “They all worked really hard to get this music down. I could not be prouder of the group here tonight.”

The students arrived at Berg Middle School in Newton early in the morning to start rehearsals. A couple of the songs they had a chance to practice ahead of the event, but not all of them.

“We worked a lot on balance,” Hamborg said. “We have a really big group. A lot of our kids have not had experience listening down to our tubas way in the back.”

After hours of work, the kids got a break for dinner and to prepare for their evening performance. Once the chairs were set and the curtain went up, beautiful music provided by the talented musicians.

The honor band performed four numbers including “Bandwidth” by Vince Gassi, “The Water is Wide” arranged by James Swearingen, “Project March” by Harold Bennett and “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay, arranged by Tim Waters.

“The students really, really did work hard today. Despite how hard they worked, at lunch going through the line, they were superb. I think I got a thank you from almost every single person. We have some pretty awesome kids here.”

Honor Band Members

Berg Middle School Newton: Haylee Adams, Bree Ergenbright, Maddy Cunningham, Avery Kuker, Emily Cantu, ChyAnne Alt, Kadenze Jones, Aubrie White, Joanelys Flores, Rylan Allison, Remington Storm, Mya Avis, Adie Booth, Halle Carson, Jude Jacobson, Caroline Ludwig, Josie Munson, Rilynn Cupples, Grace Shannon, Katelynn Dekoning, Rachel Pageler, Ainsley Yenger, Forest Miller, Eden Tisdale, Sadie Stiles, Brayden Mattingly, Colt Jensen, Kathryn Earl, Landen Terlouw, Rayn Sieler, Kaiden Angle, Joey Panada, Max Allen, Jase Layton, Bentley Heck, Elijah Doran, Charlie Allen, Henryk Ford, Aubrey Hadsall, Blake Anderson, Amelia Hornbuckle, Sam Kasten, Violet Newell, Brandon Holmes, Meghan Bright, Jack Zink, Jackson Simpson, Skyler Savage, David Cope, Baylee Munson, Maddox Bloom, Kate Lamont

Baxter Middle School: Grace Warden, Noah Stranton, Katt Wing, Olivia Parrie, Avery Whaley, Zander Parker, Ella Moffit, Kydin Wing, Gavin Yeltman, Kenzie Cross, Ada Warkentin

Colfax-Mingo Middle School: Londyn Alanis, Mia Frangopol, Lucy Robinson, Nora Hunsberger, Natausha Victor, Adalyn Everett, Zella Perry, Weston Boehm, Xander Gerholdt

Lynnville-Sully Middle School: Payton Bowlin, Willow Gibbs, Hayden Lewis, John Meyers, Graysen LeCompte

Newton Christian: Rebecca Nook, Layla Simon, Piper Lauterbach, Victoria Van Kley, Addy Groves, Trevor Van Kley, Will McKinney, Shaei Koenen

PCM Middle School: Jacelyn Daye, Myra Underwood, Adalynn Breckenridge, Gabriel King, Caleb Ingle, Andrew Braun, Josie Jenkins, Carson Deleon, Erica Thomas, Patrick Jimenez, Caleb Kain, Hayden Pierson