All Conference Band Showcases Talents

By: Suzee Crabtree, contributing writer

On February 16, 2022, the All Conference Band performed five songs to several schools, including Brookfield, Monroe City, Palmyra and Centralia.​

All conference band performances have been a tradition for many years. 

All conference band brings students from several school districts to come together and perform challenging songs to schools within the Clarence Cannon Conference. This allows students to socialize with other band members and create music with new people.

Mrs. Kim Neighbors, Centralia High School (CHS) band director, expresses her joy for this event. “It’s fun for the students to meet new people from other schools, and it’s fun to spend the day together, going out to eat and performing,” Neighbors says.

This year our own CHS all conference band members consisted of: Terra Veazey (Clarinet), Wendi Hargis (Flute), Brooke Whitlatch (Flute), Susanna Nix (Trombone), Bre Crockett (Clarinet), Tylor Taylor (Trombone) and Nealia Toedebusch (Tuba). 

Terra Veazey, CHS senior, discusses the challenges of all conference band. “Only rehearsing for a few hours of one day is a challenge for band students, so practicing before the rehearsal is crucial,” Veazey says.

To join all conference band, students must audition by learning a new song, called an étude, and playing scales. This is a very selective process, and it is an honor to be accepted into all conference band.

Bre Crockett, CHS freshman, says her favorite part about all conference band is lunch, “Not just for the food, but it's a quality bonding experience with members of your own band that you may not talk to daily,” Crockett says.

Crockett and Toedebusch enjoyed playing in their hometown. It gave them a sense of pride to be able to perform in front of their friends at Centralia. Veazey also expressed panther pride. “Rep the C!” Veazey says.