With the St. Louis High School graduating class of 2025 ending their journey and starting a new chapter in their life, many classes feel empty, but the band has suffered the most with a total of 10 students graduating. The absence of these students will be felt greatly, but with incoming freshmen, the band could also have something to gain.
A total of 13 eighth graders will be in the band next year, bringing new talent and opportunity. Losing talent from the band might be considered a devastating loss, but that doesn’t stop the band from succeeding. Band director Steve Lawhorne shared, “I have a very aggressive plan for the concerts next year. We’re gonna work really hard, and we have lots of good players coming up. Every time the seniors graduate, you lose good players, but we have had a strong freshmen class this year, and we have another strong one coming in. People panic every year about what we’re gonna do when the seniors graduate, but it’s gonna be okay.”
Guitarist and saxophonist Hudsyn Humble will become a junior following this year. According to Humble, “For a band, the most significant challenge is often maintaining consistent creativity and avoiding stagnation and after the seniors leave, making a big impact but we get new people who will do great things. The greatest gain we get is increased experience and improved teamwork over time and more people are joining band even with the seniors we’ve lost.” Humble says that she misses the seniors a lot. “Personally, I miss Rebekah Ross the most. She was the best trumpet player. She was funny, outgoing, and always there for others during band, and was very welcoming in my first year.
The band is one of the most successful organizations at SLHS. From playing in the marching band, to pep band during basketball season, and eventually playing in festivals with steel pans. Many things will come to an end, but many students use band to make lifelong friends and memories.
