Select members of KHS band will perform with United States Army Field Band

Twelve members of the KHS band, including (front row, from left) Vickie Panousis, Yiota Panousis, Laurel Jones, Amber Dawes, (back row, from left) Travis Gentry, Heather Armstrong, Katie Goebel, Will Caldwell, Jody Vancil, Allyson Luce, Jonathan Rooney, and Ethan Seats, prepare for their upcoming performance with the U.S. Army Field Band on Thursday evening. Staff photo by George Anderson

When the U.S. Army Field Band performs for the crowd on Thursday evening, 12 students from the Kennett High School (KHS) band will join them in the performance of the "Chesapeake Bay March," a selection written by U.S. Army Field Band Conductor Col. Thomas Palmatier.

Joining the U.S. Army Field Band will be Amber Dawes on piccolo, Vickie Panousis on first flute, Yiota Panousis on first clarinet, Katie Goebel on second clarinet, Will Caldwell on first trumpet, Allyson Luce on second trumpet, Jody Vancil on third trumpet, Laurel Jones on first French horn, Jonathan Rooney on first trombone, Heather Armstrong on baritone, Travis Gentry on saxophone, and Ethan Seats on Tuba.

According to KHS Band Director Tom Ryan, the students were selected from a group of volunteers.

"First of all, they had to want to do it," Ryan said, adding that the selection was limited to one student per section.

Ryan said he then selected the 12 individuals from some of his top students.

The KHS students have been focusing on the piece for the performance for the last week, with many students looking forward to the performance.

"It is pretty exciting," said Jody Vancil. "It is exciting because they travel all over the country and we get the opportunity to play with them."

"It is an honor and a privilege to play with such a prestigious band," said Will Caldwell. "I look forward to it."

"It should be fun," said Ethan Seats.

"I think it is an honor to play with the Army Band because I think they are a great band," said Amber Dawes. "I think it is a privilege for them to come to Kennett and let us play."

"I am really looking forward to playing with the Army Band because it seems like a good opportunity," said Laurel Jones.

"I think it will be exciting to see how well they play," said Yiota Panousis. "It will be interesting."

The 65 member U.S. Army Field Band and the 29 member Soldiers Chorus are scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 5, in the KHS gymnasium. The event is jointly-sponsored by the Kennett High School Band and the Daily Dunklin Democrat.

Kennett resident Jack Astrachan, who was very instrumental in the band's first performance in 2003, is in charge of booking for the event.

According to Astrachan, the event will be a 90-minute performance with no intermission.

Astrachan said the KHS gymnasium will be set up for a capacity crowd of 1,400 people. Admission for the event is free, and although all available tickets have been distributed, Astrachan said no one will be turned away.