The North East Kansas Music Educators Association held their 2015-16 concert on Dec. 5. This performance included the three main high school bands, a high school jazz band and others. The 3A/4A band, or the Gold band, consisted of 64 members, 13 of which were from De Soto High School.

The band played three songs, one including a flute solo featuring DHS senior Jaycie Thaemert. Thaemert received first chair for flute in the honor band.

“You get to perform with a lot of other people that care about music, which isn’t always the case with some high school bands. With an audition band like this you get to perform with people who definitely care,” Thaemert said.

DHS also had its first baritone saxophone player to make district band, senior Jared Schneider.

“I don’t know if a baritone sax has ever gotten in, but the last time an alto sax got in was four years ago, so it feels really good to make it in,” Schneider said. “We got all of the best players in the northeast district together, so really, there was no doubt that it would go well.”

Schneider also enjoyed working with the director of the band, Dr. Martin Bergee.

“Dr. Bergee is absolutely incredible. He’s just a great human being, someone you want to be around. [DHS Band director Matt Bradford] told me that he declined payment for this and asked them to put it towards a student scholarship instead,” Schneider said.

The performance had a few special guests, including the composer of one of the pieces they played and other directors that received various awards.

Overall, the group thought the concert went well.

“I think it went really well. Dr. Murphy [the conductor] worked really well as our clinician,” Thaemert said.

The 13 from DHS will also get the chance to audition for NEKMEA State band at the beginning of next year.

“I think everyone should at least audition. It’s a really good band and a really great experience that everyone should have,” junior Kayla Deghand said.