Three local students to perform with nationwide band

SUPERIOR – Three students from Superior High School have been honored with a once in a lifetime opportunity to join a band composed of musicians from all across the nation.

Sophomores Jonathan Buchanan and Mary Donally with senior Jarrod Tippens Jr. will join an all-star band organized by the University of Montana, which will play in Missoula on November 17. The trio will be joined by 147 kids from schools across five states to perform the concert.

Buchanan plays trumpet, Donally plays clarinet and Tippens plays saxophone. The 150 students will be broken into two groups to perform the concert. It is unknown how the groups will be divided.

As part of the trip, the students will also get to perform during the pre-game show of a Grizzly game. The students will also attend a master’s level class taught by Rex Richardson, a professional trumpet player, and a Jazz concert at the Dennison Theater.

Donally began to play clarinet in the fifth grade, inspired by the fact her mother played clarinet in school. Filled with a desire to emulate her mother, she took up the instrument. A former stepfather bought her a clarinet, which she still uses today.

Donally said she was excited, but nervous, about the opportunity. She admitted the music was different from what she was used to and it would be a unique experience. Still, she is excited about the concert and said her family would come to watch.

“I just really hope I don’t screw up too badly,” she said with a laugh.

Due to technical difficulties, she said she had just recently received the music and only had a week to practice her parts. She said the emails with the music did not deliver when they were supposed to. She also described the music as more difficult than what she was used to. Since she will be one musician among 12 other clarinetists, she jokingly hoped any problems she had would not be too noticeable.

“I guess if I do terribly at the concert, I will have to blame Outlook and Hotmail,” she said.

Donally said she is looking forward to the Jazz concert the most and explained it would be a different experience from what she has done before. She said she feels very honored to have been selected to participate in the concert.

Donally has no current plans to continue band after high school. Though still only a sophomore, she said her plans include studying veterinary science and would not likely allow her to join a college band program and still keep up with her studies.

“I can barely fit [music] on my plate right now,” she said with regards to her future plans.

Buchanan could not be reached for comment and the Mineral Independent failed to contact Tippens.

It was unknown which group Donally, Buchanan or Tippens would be part of. The all-star concert will be held in Missoula on Sunday, November 17 at the Dennison Theater at the University of Montana. The performance will begin at 2 p.m.