Five students from Ruckel Middle School earned Florida All-State Band Honors. Isabel Wooten (Clarinet), Riley Geering (Clarinet), Simon Smith (Trombone), Brody Bliss (Euphonium) and Richard Reid (Trombone)

These students traveled to Tampa to audition earlier in January. They played and competed with the best young musicians in the state of Florida, noted Teri Bruse – the Ruckel Band director.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn when we received the comprehensive list of all students who made All-State in Florida, that only two schools had more students selected than Ruckel – and both of those schools are specifically Arts Magnet Schools,” said band director Teri Bruse, “But what I’m most proud of is that these 8th graders were 5th graders when all the schools went online for COVID in 2020.  I had just started teaching them in my 5th grade band program 7 months earlier.  They never missed a beat!”

Students from every public, private, charter and virtual school in the state were able to compete. The in-person process in Tampa followed a long application process. 

In addition to the five students who were selected to the All-State Band, a total of 30 students were selected to the All-County Honor band. 

The 30 students who were selected for the All-County Honor Band will join other students from across the county’s middle schools to rehearse music to perform at a concert on Saturday February 4th at the Mattie Kelly Performing Arts Center at Northwest State College. 

Those Students are:

Row 1: Reagan Wyman (flute), Veronica Bond (flute), Briel Coley (flute), Chloe Ciampa (flute), Samantha Williams (flute).

Row 2: Riley Geering (clarinet), Isabel Wooten (clarinet), Avy Hinojosa (clarinet), Alex Morgan (clarinet), Hayley Gibson (clarinet), Lawren Isbell (bass clarinet), Andersen Shell (tenor saxophone), Claire Quick (alto saxophone), Brody Bliss (euphonium).

Row 3:  Emily Martinez (trumpet), Gianna Borello (trumpet), Jalie Borello (French horn), Jayla Hurt (French horn), Ava Albright (French horn), Simon Smith (trombone), Ethan Brand (trombone), Richard Reid (trombone), Rose Weinacker (trombone), Tyler Steele (trombone), WIlliam Ross (trombone), Julia Milz (tuba).

Row 4:  Rocco Welch (percussion), Will Scroggs (percussion), Roman Hill (percussion), Jackson Zielinski (percussion).