The 2025 All-City Band Concert took place on Tuesday, May 13 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Gym A. Both Hays High School and Hays Middle School performed to showcase their abilities.
Hector Hernandez, the main high school band director, usually directs the high school bands, but due to breaking his arm recently, he will have others to assist in directing the bands.
“Since I broke my arm, the concert will be directed by [orchestra director ] Mr. Brayden Smith, [band director] Mr. Alex Crowley and [senior] Katelyn Willemsen,” Hernandez said. “I will at least be able to direct the Jazz Band, though.”
For the concert, the high school Jazz Band played, followed by the school’s Concert Band.
“I am very confident in their abilities,” Hernandez said prior to the concert. “They have worked so hard this year, and I am proud of the work they have put in.”
With both the high school and the middle school playing, this year’s concert was expected to have many people in attendance. Many have been anticipating this concert, including the students at both schools and their parents, as many students have been working to finish the year on a good note. The concert serves as a showcase of the students’ abilities that they have developed in band throughout the school year.
“I feel our performances give off a powerful and fun message and feeling,” senior Haley Roth said.
The concert also offers the high school and the middle school to perform together at one concert for the community. Otherwise, the bands perform separately.
“Every year, Hays High School does a concert with the middle school, but other than that, we do not perform with the middle school,” Roth said.
Roth said she has been participating in band for seven years, and thanks to her being a “Spongebob Squarpants” fan, she chose to play the clarinet because of the character of Squidward.
“My band teacher at the time looked at me and let me choose between clarinet, flute and saxophone,” Roth said. “As a big Spongebob fan, I chose clarinet.”
27bbogle@usd489.com & 27owhite@usd489.com
