Janna Lane, an assistant band director at Siloam Springs High School, has been invited to direct the Region 8 All Region Band in Fort Smith on Jan. 26 and 27.
Lane will be teaching top seventh- through ninth-grade band students from school districts in the region on Friday and Saturday morning. Then she will direct them as they perform together on Saturday afternoon.
Arkansas is divided into nine regions, and each region holds competitions to determine the top students, according to SSHS band director Daniel Hodge. Students who excel above and beyond are invited back to perform together in all region band.
"They spend a lot of time working on the music, and the scales and things to prepare for it, and if you make All Region that just shows you've worked really hard," Lane said.
Being involved with all region band isn't just an honor for students, it's also an honor for the person chosen to direct the band, said Hodge.
The 50 to 60 band directors in each region have a meeting at the end of the year and discuss who they would like to come and work with their students, then take a vote to determine who that person will be, Hodge explained.
"They've got to think about who are the great ones in the state that can come in and teach our kids," Hodge said. "It's not only that one person thought of them, there's like a massive vote and by popular demand this person gets it. ... They're very particular about who comes in and works with their students."
Hodge said that Region 8 is arguably the best region in the state.
"It's a very, very high honor and we're real proud," he said.
Lane also said she feels honored to be chosen to direct the band.
"I feel it's a honor because we're real particular about who stands in front of our kids and we always want good quality educators in front of our kids, and we really are picky about who we let educate our kids," Lane said. "And for some other region to choose me, I know they put a lot of time and energy into that thought process. It's just a real honor. I feel like they trust me or they wouldn't have asked, and that's special."
Lane has worked in the Siloam Springs School District for 18 years and has taught for nearly 25 years. She teaches band students in grades six through 12, focusing primarily on woodwinds. She is also the conductor for the middle school and high school symphonic bands.
She works as a team with her husband Sean Lane, an assistant band director who teaches percussion. The couple has two daughters, age 16 and 20, who are also musicians.
This is not the first time that Lane has directed an all region band, but it has been a few years since she had the honor.
Hodge said that Lane is a talented musician but her real strength is making a connection with the students.
Lane said she loves to have the opportunity to work with students that she doesn't see every day and make a connection with them. She is hopeful the clinic will inspire the students who participate to fall in love with music and keep pursuing their musical education.
"I just love that part of it, being able to work with the kids and (helping them) have a great musical experience," she said.
General News on 01/17/2018