VICENZA -- Fourteen students from the Vicenza High School Music Department were selected for the Department of Defense Educational Activity-Europe All-European Honor Band and Choir.

It is an especially high honor, as this the highest number of students selected at one time in the history of the school. Selected students went through a blind audition process, where only the number of the applicant of the instrument or voice is given; no name or school is known, and the highest scores are selected.

Each year, DODEA-E begins its selection process to choose the "best of the best" to be part of one concert band and one concert choir, thus creating the Honor Band and Choir.

Once students are selected, the ensembles meet and rehearse for three and a half days, culminating in a large public concert. This is similar to All-State Band and Choirs in the United States.

This year the concert hall was in Bingen, Germany, at the Rheintal-Kongressqentrum Hall. Guest conductors were: Dr. Ryan W. Holder from Northern Arizona University and Lt. Col. Don Schofield Jr., commander of the United States Air Force Band Europe, located in Ramstein, Germany.

The 14 VHS music students were: Angel Paz-bassoon, Donovan Compton-bassoon, Bethany Williams-trumpet, Ethan Johnston-French horn, Derek Hammond-tuba, Hannah Ross-soprano, Cosette Schroeder-soprano, Nicole McCollaum-soprano, Samantha Rivera-soprano, Payton Neal-alto, Samoa Roberts-tenor, Nicholas Ornelas-tenor, William Sattazahn-bass, and Donald Neal III-bass. The music department is under the direction of Gary Marvel.