CALHOUN MUSICIAN EXCELS AT MARSHALL UNIVERSITY

(09/13/2008)

Briana Blankenship, center-right, with Marshall University band

Briana Blankenship, a 2008 graduate of Calhoun County High School, is a current trumpet major at Marshall University in Huntington.

Briana was a top-notch musician while at Calhoun High, receiving many honors and accolades, and is continuing to excel in her first semester at MU.

She is a member of the 264-member Marching Thunder, playing 1st trumpet. She recently auditioned for the Wind Symphony and will be playing 2nd chair trumpet for this premier ensemble.

She was one of 6 trumpets chosen for the 30-piece Pep Band that recently performed in Charleston for "Paint the Capitol City Green," an event to kick off the Herds football season in the Capitol City.

Briana was also selected as one of five trumpet players from Marshall who will be competing in the National Trumpet Competition in Washington, DC, early this spring.

The Marching Thunder will be traveling to Indianapolis to perform for the Indianapolis Colts game on September 21.

The Herd Band will be the first band to perform at the new Colt's Stadium. The following Tuesday the Marching Thunder will perform at the Kanawha County Band and Majorette Festival and then to Morgantown on Saturday to perform at the Herd vs. Mountaineer game.