The students of the Sterling High School group, under the leadership of Shauna Snyder, are having great success this year with a number of students selected to show off their skills at different events.

Senior Johnny Strohmeyer has been selected to participate in the 71st Annual Colorado All-State Band, April 7-9, in Greeley. Strohmeyer was selected for the Colorado All-State Concert Band, which is open to any sophomore, junior, or senior in the band in Colorado state high schools with 1,100 or fewer students (based on number of students). ‘”Registrations” in the CHSAA 2020-21 Yearbook). He joins an elite group of SHS Group students to be selected for this distinguished honor and is the first since 2019.

Strohmeyer has been playing the flute since eighth grade, he said he started when he saw the instrument lying around the house and quickly began to like it. To be considered for the Colorado All-State Band, he had to record an audition stating his name and instrument, play the scales, and then perform a song. He was surprised when he found out he was selected and still can’t believe it.

“I still don’t think I got in, I don’t believe it, but my name is on the list, so I guess I did,” Strohmeyer said, sharing that he’s very excited to have more music to play and to be able to perform in a senior level band with students from across the state.

As for plans after high school, although he may learn the flute once in a while just to play for fun, he has no plans to enter the music field. Instead, he thinks of becoming a math teacher or a nurse.

Strohmeyer isn’t the only SHS group to receive honors. Twenty-two students have been selected for the Holyoke Honor Band, which will take place Monday at Holyoke High School. The day will include a concert open to the public beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Holyoke High School. Students performing will include:

Freshmen
Mason Boeff – Clarinet
Josh Emrick – Trombone
Corynn Hensman – French horn
Carlee Hicks – Flute
Morgan Lambert – tenor saxophone
Addison Pasko – Flute
Mattea Pelton – Trumpet
Kierra Simmons – Flute

Second year students
Codie Amen – Oboe
Isaiah Harder – Tuba (1st chair)
Bryan Jofre – Alto saxophone
Shelby Rynek – Clarinet
James Waite – Trumpet
George Witherspoon – baritone saxophone

junior
Juan (Tino) Diaz – Trumpet
Karly McKinney – Trombone
Molly Mitchell – Percussion (1st chair)

Seniors
Ashley Locke – Tenor Saxophone (1st Chair)
Marshal Mitchell – Tuba
Andrew Pasko – trombone
Johnny Strohmeyer – Flute (1st chair)

Additionally, three SHS students have been selected for the Patriot League Honor Rolls, which will take place on Monday, February 7 in Greeley. Elected students include:

harmony orchestra
Mason Boeff, freshman, 2nd/3rd clarinet
Kierra Simmons, Freshman, 2nd Flute

Symphonic group
Johnny Strohmeyer, senior, 1st flute

That’s not all, 17 students from the SHS group have been selected to attend the CSU-Pueblo Festival of the Winds, Feb. 10-12, at CSU-Pueblo, Pueblo. Students are selected on the recommendation of the Director. More than 450 students from more than 45 different high schools across the state applied.

Upon arrival, students will audition to be placed in one of four honor bands (Red Symphonic Band, Blue Symphonic Band, Green Wind Ensemble, and Gold Wind Ensemble). Students will have the opportunity to work with college instrumental music teachers, college music majors, as well as professional clinicians all weekend, culminating in a final concert featuring the four honor bands. The concert is open to the public.

SHS students selected to attend include:

Codie Amen – Oboe
Mason Boeff – Clarinet
Juan (Tino) Diaz – Trumpet
Josh Emrick – Trombone
Isaiah Harder – Tuba
Corynn Hensman – Trumpet
Ashley Locke – tenor saxophone
Marshal Mitchell – Percussion
Molly Mitchell – Piano
Andrew Pasko – trombone
Shelby Rynek – Clarinet
Johnny Strohmeyer – Flute
James Waite – Trumpet
Bryan Jofre – Substitute (alto saxophone)
Kierra Simmons – Alternate (Flute)
Izaiah Wilkins – Alternate (Drums)
George Witherspoon – Alternate (tenor/bari saxophone)