Great Bend High School student August Siefkes of Hudson was accepted for membership with the 2022 John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band, a highly selective national student concert band that met in central Massachusetts in June. Her parents are Jon and Andrea Siefkes.

Siefkes is a member of the local Great Bend High School music ensemble conducted by Grant Mathews and also studies privately under the instruction of Kurtis Koch.

The John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band met in Harvard, Mass. from June 26-30, with run-out performances in Gardner and Athol, Mass. on June 27 and 28, respectively. The main concert event took place on Wednesday evening, June 29 in historic Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Mass., the site of many performances of the original Sousa Band.

The National Honor Band was conducted by Michael J. Colburn, recent director of the Butler University Wind Ensemble and former director of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in Washington, D.C. High school band students from all states and territories in the United States who were in grades 9-12 during the 2021-2022 school year were eligible to audition. Mr. Colburn was assisted by guest conductor Frank L. Battisti, founder and director emeritus of the New England Conservatory Wind Ensemble in Boston.

Acceptance in this honor band is considered to be an important musical achievement of national significance. The 2022 Band is comprised of 90 students representing US 25 states coast to coast. 

The band website is:https://www.sousanhsband.com.