3 students from Glendale high school chosen to perform with national marching band
Oct 31, 2014, 7:00 AM | Updated: 7:29 am
PHOENIX — Three Mountain Ridge High School students will be traveling to San Antonio at the start of the year to perform in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl being held at the Alamodome.
“It’s surreal, it didn’t really hit me when I first got the call,” said 18-year-old student Katie Leppa. “Now, it’s all coming together. We’ve received music and the drills. It’s all so very exciting.”
Only 125 of the best high school musicians were chosen for the 2015 Army All-American Marching Band roster. The students will travel expense-free to Texas, have a chance to learn from the U.S. Army Field Band and perform during halftime of the high school football showcase.
“It’s an incredible opportunity,” said 17-year-old Mountain Ridge student Craig Stauffer, who added a debt of gratitude is owed to his school’s band director, George Hattendorf. “He really drives us to have the inspiration to learn and improve, no matter what your passion is.”
Mountain Ridge High School has produced 11 All-American band members overall, more than any other high school in Arizona.