Eight Northwestern students chosen for Iowa Collegiate Honor Band

Angel Skippings—a junior music education major from Nassau in the Bahamas, who plays trumpet—is one of eight Northwestern students chosen to participate in the 2024-25 Iowa Collegiate Honor Band.

Eight members of the Northwestern College Symphonic Band have been chosen to participate in the 2024–25 Iowa Collegiate Honor Band.

The honor band, composed of the best woodwind, brass and percussion students from colleges and universities throughout the state, will gather at Central College in Pella, Iowa, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

After rehearsing all day Friday and on Saturday morning, the honor band will present a concert Saturday at 2 p.m. in Central’s Douwstra Auditorium. Captain David Regner, flight commander for the United States Air Force Band based in Washington, D.C., will conduct the ensemble.

The Northwestern students who are members of the honor band were nominated by Dr. Angela (Holt) Carlson, associate professor of music and director of instrumental studies and music education at NWC. Once nominated, they were chosen for the group by the Iowa Collegiate Honor Band selection committee. Upon their arrival in Pella, they will audition for chair placements within the ensemble.

The NWC students who are members of the Iowa Collegiate Honor Band are Benjamin Geary, a junior from Sioux City, on alto saxophone; Tiahna Grady, a junior from Sioux City, on flute; Annika Jahn, a junior from Sioux Center, on alto saxophone; Elena Lee, a senior from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on tenor saxophone; Meredith Sundberg, a junior from Kearney, Nebraska, on clarinet; Josiah Sandstrom, a junior from Mantorville, Minnesota, on trumpet; Angel Skippings, a junior from Nassau in the Bahamas, on trumpet; and Abigail Tilberg, a sophomore from Le Mars, Iowa, on flute and piccolo.

Northwestern’s music department has a tradition of dynamic performances, outstanding faculty and standout educational experiences in an environment committed to glorifying God. Students can audition for one or more of 10 ensembles, having the opportunity to tour around the world and perform in the award-winning Christ Chapel.