(Courtesy Photos) Several BHS Band members were named Outstanding Musicians, including above, (l to r) Daniel Hawkins, Justin Payne, Taylor Cramer, Jessica Scott, and Kaylan McGaughey. Jessica Scott and Tarah Thornton, right (l to r) were recipients of $250 band scholarships.

The first Brownsboro High School Band Banquet was held Thursday, May 28 at the Chandler First United Methodist Church. More than 250 people attended the banquet, including students and their parents.

The band banquet was a unique way to celebrate the end of the year for the band as it was held in addition to the annual spring concerts.

For the high school band, all awards were presented at the event. Three different awards were handed out, as well as the Band Booster Scholarships.

Each year, each graduating band senior is awarded with a scholarship worth $100. In addition, two seniors receive $250.

Thes senirors for the 2008- 2009 school year are Jessica Scott and Tarah Thornton.

The Outstanding Musician award is presented to those students who have placed in the top of their sections in the individual band contests held throughout the year. This year, the Brownsboro High School band placed a record five students in the Texas All State Band.

Thexe five students — seniors Taylor Cramer, Kaylan McGaughey, and Jesica Scott are two-year all staters, with sofphomore Daniel Hawkings and juior Justin Payne — were named as the Outstanding Musicians.

In addition to the Outstanding Musician award, there is an Outstanding Bandsmen award. This awars is presented to those students who have imporved their own level of musicianship, but have also shown incredible dedication to the band. These two students are junior trumpet Clint Johnson and freshman trumpet Chelsey Fowler.

The final award for the 2008- 2009 school year is the John Phillip Sousa award. The Sousa award is the most prestigious awars as it honors outstanding musicianship, hard work and dedication to the band. Senior saxaphone Tarah Thorton received the award.

Also, in honoring the seniors, more than $20,000 was awarded in band scholarships to the 2008- 2009 graducating class. The following seniors were awarded band scholarships from Tyler Junior College: Danielle Bynum, Kamron Covington, Kate Griffin, Jessica Scott, Haley Smith, Tevin Storr and tarah Thornton.

Together, their award money totaled more than $18,000.

Taylor Cramer received a $2,000 yearly scholarship from Texas A&M-Commerce and Kaylan McGaughey received a $1,200 yearly scholarship from Stephen F. Austin University.