Harding Charter Prep recently returned to CODA with three band members participating in the Symphonic Honor Band.
The Central Oklahoma Directors Association Regional Honor Band is a competitive band with some of the most musically gifted students in the north central Oklahoma City metro area, including Edmond, Deer Creek, and OKC schools. This year over 100 students were accepted across the high school division alone with an additional 200 students in the middle school level.
Sophomore Samuel Carr, junior Harper Ruhl and senior Lucas Helm earned spots in the band in November with them receiving 1st chair flute, 2nd chair oboe, and 3rd chair bass clarinet respectively. The honor band rehearsals were held at OU and was conducted under Charles Bartrug, a former high school band director at Yukon with 33 years of experience under his belt.
The honor band played “Coat of Arms” by George Kenny, “Sheltering Sky” by John Mackey, “God of our Fathers” by Claude T. Smith, and “Matador” by John Cacavas.
“‘God of Our Fathers’ was my favorite piece that we played, mainly because our part was very fun and we had that good rich low reed sound,” Helm said. “I also enjoyed hearing the trumpets and other brass instruments play in an inspirational way.”
