Graves High sends 6 to All-State Bands at KMEA | Schools

GRAVES COUNTY, KY (KFVS) - Graves County High School sent six band students to play in the All-State Honor Bands in early February at the Kentucky Music Educators Association’s annual meeting in Louisville.

They were selected for and participated in the All-District Symphonic Band last fall. District officials then recommended the students to audition for a prestigious musical group comprised of the top student-musicians from across Kentucky.

"To have six students from Graves County make an All-State Honor Band is a huge deal for those students and our program," said Graves County band director Jeff Williams. "It’s one of the highest honors a band student can achieve in Kentucky."

The six Graves County members of the 2013 All-State Bands are pictured here.

They include, from left, Zach Smith, trombone, first chair, orchestra; Todd Shiflett, percussion, second chair, symphonic band; Robert Cagle, French horn, eighth chair, symphonic band; Chris Rice, trumpet, twelfth chair, symphonic band; Mitchell Rollins, alto saxophone, second chair, symphonic band; and Hunter Moffitt, trombone, second chair, jazz band.

Smith is the first Graves County Student to earn All-State honors for all four years of high school.

Moffitt is the first Graves County student to qualify for the All-State Jazz Band.

Ellis Shelby, Craig Fuqua, and Jeff Williams direct the Graves County elementary, middle and high school bands, respectively, with assistance from percussion instructor Shane Melvin.

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