LCC State Band

LAUREL-LCC State Band News Release Nebraska Class C State Honor Band was held at Kearney High School on Saturday, March 28. Students from 33 Nebraska schools were chosen to be state band members. The Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School had nine students who made it to state out of the 298 total auditions submitted. After an audition of scales, rudiments and etudes the following LCC band students were notified that they made it to state in band: The Junior High Band were Caden Barnes and Tenlie Christiansen- both batter percussion, Stella Graham-bass clarinet, and Foster Stone-trumpet; in the Symphonic Band were Alex Allison-bari saxophone, Jolynn Kinkaid-batter percussion, and Christian Staplestrumpet; in the Wind Ensemble: were Paul Allison-trombone and Derek Nelson-batter percussion.

This year marked the 40th Annual Class C All State Honor Band. To commemorate the 40th year the Nebraska Class C All State organization commissioned composer Larry MacTaggart to compose a band arrangement for the Wind Ensemble. MacTaggart composed “Never Forget” which had its “World Premiere” first performance at the concert Saturday night. “Never Forget” was a song written in remembrance of all World War II Veterans. LCC's very own Paul Allison and Derek Nelson were part of the World Premiere performance under the direction of Kevin McLouth, director of the Northeast Community College Concert Band and the Northeast Jazz Machine.

All nine LCC band members received state medals at the event. A total of 225 students from the state of Nebraska were selected into the 2026 State Honor Band.