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HNHS Band Department honors 3 seniors

(From left) Bailey Godfrey, Luke Bangma and Hannah Lehman.
(From left) Bailey Godfrey, Luke Bangma and Hannah Lehman. Photos provided.

The Huntington North High School Band Department has announced its three year-end awards to graduating seniors.
The Norris Huston Memorial Award was presented to Bailey Godfrey.
Godfrey has been involved in concert band, wind ensemble and Varsity Brass bands at HNHS, and also with the Huntington University band. She has received gold ratings at both district and state in both solo and ensemble performances in ISSMA festivals.
She is currently ranked in the Top 15 of her class with a GPA exceeding 11.2.

Outside of band, Godfrey is a varsity cheerleader and mentors young girls through a princess program.
She will attend Wake Forest University to begin her quest toward becoming a doctor.
The Norris Huston Memorial Award is named after a former 40-year band director in Huntington County, including HNHS.
“The Huston family wanted the award to go to a proficient musician involved in the band program, and a good student,” stated Assistant Band Director John Gardner, “but with an added emphasis on a student’s demonstrated citizenship and community service.”
The Louis Armstrong Jazz Award goes to Luke Bangma.
Bangma has been a member of the marching band, concert band, wind ensemble, jazz band, pep band and Varsity Brass and has also competed in ISSMA solo and ensemble events.
“The national award was initiated in 1974 and is awarded to a student who has demonstrated outstanding dedication and achievement in the area of jazz,” Gardner stated.
Hannah Lehman received the highest award given by the band department, the national John Philip Sousa Award.
Lehman has performed with concert band, wind ensemble, pep band, marching band and in musical pit orchestras. She has played in the Huntington University Band and the PFW Three Rivers Honor Band.
“She is also in Huntington North choirs, which she has soloed with and accompanied,” Gardner wrote. “She spent several years in the Community Choirs of Huntington County. And this year, when she auditioned for all-state choir, hers was the only perfect score audition from our audition area.”
Lehman has participated all four years in ISSMA solo/ensemble festivals receiving gold ratings at both district and state on clarinet, piano and vocal.
Lehman is ranked in the Top 15 in her class with an 11.2+ GPA. She will attend Goshen College to major in vocal education with a concentration in piano.
John Philip Sousa was the director of “The President’s Own” Marine Band and wrote dozens of recognizable marches, including what some call the nation’s unofficial anthem, “The Stars And Stripes Forever.” Established in 1955, the Sousa Award recognizes “superior musicianship” and “outstanding dedication.”
Some former recipients include HNHS Band Director Michael Petek, Crestview Band Director Doug McElhaney, HNHS Jazz Band Assistant and Varsity Brass Director Matt Walter, former band director Chris and Diane Whitacre, HNHS teacher Martha Goings, and both of Gardner’s children, John Gardner Jr. and David Gardner.