Duke’s 29 piece Advanced Band participated for the first time at Edmond’s Santa Fe High School in Edmond on March 28 for the 22nd Annual Heartland Music Festival. Performances are held at three sites over a five week period with approximately 200 bands made up of nearly 10,000 participants. One Sweepstakes Trophy is awarded at each site on the day of each performance. The Duke Advanced Band was the recipient of the Sweepstakes Judges Choice Trophy at this location. In addition to this honor, Duke garnered a Superior Rating Trophy and an Outstanding Achievement Trophy. Twenty-five individual high performance medals were also received. The Heartland Music Festival’s sister site is Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri.

Band Members Include the Following ~ Flutes: Brianna Blevins, Sarah Olson, Jordan Berry, Dakota Clark. Clarinets: Lucas Bales, Cecilia Vela. Saxophones: Randi Thompson, Caitlyn Osborne, Katie Jones, Lauren Vick. French Horn: Marshall Durrence. Trumpets: Amanda Olson, Falyn Bales, Miranda Stevenson, Jaylan Hamersley, Nolan Vela. Trombones: Tommy Johns, Johnny Castillo, Brandon Mayo. Baritone: Nic Graham. Tuba: Garrett Earls. Keyboards: Amber Martinez, Haley Thompson, Charlcey Barrett. Percussion: Luke Milner, Orin McGee, Matt Philpott, Wyatt Whatley, and Braden Edmonds. The band is under the direction of Kittie Huey.