On January 13, 2024, at 2 pm, the Agua Fria Union High School District hosted the 4th annual district honor band at Desert Edge High School. In this once-a-year event, the Band Directors from all five schools in the district choose the best musicians from their band to come together as one group. Alongside these students coming together, a special clinician is chosen to conduct the band each year. This year, the honor band had the great privilege of being led by Eric Haenfler, a nationally recognized conductor and band director, who recently retired and became a board member of the Arizona Bands and Orchestras Association.

The group gets their pieces a couple of weeks in advance and individually practices until they rehearse all together the day before the concert and the morning of to solidify the songs. They played 4 pieces during the concert: Fanfare and Flourished, Incantations, When Summers in the Medows, and The Big 4. These pieces are diverse and range from upbeat and intense to slow and melodic to display the range these students can play.

Mr. Haenfler and the students are very pleased with how the concert turned out and are very excited about these events in the upcoming years.

Gallery • 8 Photos

Gabby Comer

The Honor Band and Conductor, Eric Haenfler, bowing for the parents and friends at the showcase.