A dozen members of the South County High School band program got a taste of what it’s like to perform with one of the country’s premier service ensembles. South County director of bands Gary English said the students were selected to be part of a Jan. 9 performance with the United States Navy Band based on their achievement in all-district band auditions and other events during the year.

“It was a handful of seniors who would appreciate the experience,” said English, “and underclassmen who would benefit, bring something back to our program for the future.”

English explained that in a professional group such as the Navy band, “everyone has to be a soloist, playing different melodic lines with shape and expression.”

The band played to a packed South County auditorium, featuring a diverse program that ranged from patriotic John Philip Sousa marches to the whimsical, virtuosic “Carnival of Venice” by Jean-Baptiste Arban.

When “The Washington Post March” by Sousa came up, members of the Navy band left their seats to have the students sit in.

The students who performed included: Erica Townsend, piccolo, junior; Diana Logue, oboe, sophomore; Andrew Weaver, clarinet, senior; Benjamin Jackson, baritone saxophone, junior; Kathryn DeVore, trumpet, junior; Ryan McAllister, trumpet, senior; Yasmine Corcelius, French horn, senior; Sam Jang, trombone, junior; Thomas Bragg, euphonium, sophomore; Andrew Abba, tuba, senior; Robert Brennand, percussion, senior and Steven Barnett, percussion, sophomore.