Hastings College will hold its 60th Annual Honor Band and 52nd Annual Honor Choir concert on Monday, January 22, at 5:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Hastings (621 N Lincoln Avenue). The concert is free and open to the public, and will be livestreamed on the Hastings College YouTube channel.
The Hastings College Honor Band and Choir (HHBC) festival is the longest-running high school music honor ensembles sponsored by a college in Nebraska and features some of the best high school musical talent throughout the region. This year, 159 students were selected from Nebraska, Colorado and South Dakota — with 99 selected to be part of the choir and 60 selected for band.
Student check-in for both ensembles is Sunday, January 21, with rehearsals happening on campus until later on Monday when the groups move to the church to prepare for the concert.
The honor band is directed by Dr. Louie Eckhardt, director of bands at Hastings College. The choir is directed by Dr. Lauren Ramey, associate director of choral activities and director of music education at East Tennessee State University.
From Alliance, Ayvrie Waldron will participate in the Choir and Landyn Branstiter will participate in the Band. From Gering, Lily Kadolph and Natalie Peterson will participate in the Band. From Scottsbluff, Brandon Baker, Grace Baker, Katie Hoevet, Lauren Johnson, Max Meyer, Ava Osborn, Marlowe Osborn and Hannah Rugroden will participate in the Choir.