Quite a few members of the William Byrd Middle School and William Byrd High School bands were selected to participate in the Roanoke County All-County Band 2017. Students were nominated by their band directors,  Denise Aspell at William Byrd Middle, and Dan Plybon at WBHS.

The band event was held at Glenvar High School on Monday, October 30, and included students from all county middle and high schools. According to Aspell, they rehearsed together for one day and performed a concert the same evening.

Conductors for the All-County Band this year were Dr. Wayne Gallops from Radford University and John Wright, Director of Bands at Salem High School.

William Byrd Middle School students participating included Emma Copening and Victoria Hall playing flute; Kaiya Hoagland on oboe; Kassidy Wrye, Mya Rosser, Jaylen Rosser, Jacob Schult, and Verity Watkins performing on clarinet; Grace Altice on bass clarinet; Emiliano Gonzalez on alto sax; Latriva Pierce playing tenor sax; Jonathan Ham, Alex Wilhelm, and Trevon Cossaboon on trumpet; Collin Young and Taylor Davis on horn; Grace Saunders and Daniel Letz performing on trombone; Claire Wray on baritone; Jonah Bowser on tuba; and Hannah Sutton, percussion.

William Byrd High School band students named to All County Band this year include K.J. Elmore and Josephine Brandimore on flute; Courtney Cherry, Ashley Peters, Kayleigh Wyatt, Caleb Speck, and Grecia Hernandez playing clarinet;  Carmen White on bass clarinet; Maggie Steuart playing alto sax; McCaffrey Simmons, tenor sax; Caleb Jones, Rebecca Geisler, and Jasmine Crawford, trumpet; Piper Brown and Eva Pierce, horn; Megan Wu and Aalysa Stuckey, trombone; Aimee Harrison playing tuba; and Jacob Speck, percussion.

Aspell and Plybon said they are very proud of the students who achieved this honor.