Goessel band to play state convention

For the first time in 12 years, Goessel High School band will play at the Kansas Music Educators Association Convention.

Goessel was one of three high school orchestras from across Kansas selected for the 8 a.m. showcase Feb. 23, at Century II in Wichita. The convention center holds 2,200, but Goessel band director Scott Taylor expects 1,000 for the free event.

There are separate categories for choral groups and jazz bands, as well as elementary, middle schools, and higher education. The other schools chosen for the orchestral category were 6A schools from Overland Park, and all three were chosen via audition videos.

“For a little dinky school like Goessel, that’s pretty outstanding stuff,” Taylor said.

While Goessel is several times smaller than the other two selections, the school has a high participation rate, with 51 of the 110 high school students playing in band. Goessel’s previous appearances at the convention were in 2003 and 2006.