Band students from Hoover schools picked for honor bands, shows

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Schools

Cameron Gordon, a senior at Hoover High School, was selected by the Music for All organization to be a member of the Bands of America Honor Band in the 2026 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, on New Year’s Day.

Gordon, a member of the Hoover High School band under the direction of Ryan Fitchpatrick, joined hundreds of performers from across the nation in the national honor band. Gordon is the son of Melissa and Jeffrey Gordon.

In other Hoover school music news:

  • Bumpus Middle School had students selected to fill 14 of the 21 spots in the 2026 Alabama All-State Middle School Jazz Band this year. Those students were: Luke Burleson, alto sax; Michael Webb, tenor sax; Lily Awtrey, trumpet; Levi Batchelor, trumpet; Jake Wendling, trumpet; Erin Aroke, trombone; Caitlyn Maina, trombone; Mia Warren, trombone; Henny Fosu, trombone; Anna Maple, guitar; Ansley Davis, bass guitar; Madelyn Posey, piano; S.J. Fasinu, drum set; and Michaela Kilungu, vibraphone. Seven of the 10 alternate places in the Alabama All-State Middle School Jazz Band were also filled by Bumpus students. They were: Caleb Riley, alto sax; Elliot Cantrell, bari sax; Brannon Brooks, trumpet; Miles Begecki, trombone; Ella Prevatte, guitar; Jackson Clark, auxiliary percussion; and Yawen Li, vibraphone.
  • Hoover High School’s First Edition jazz ensemble was the featured performance at the Jazz Education Network conference in New Orleans in early January, and two other bands from Hoover performed there, as well.
  • Both Hoover High’s First Edition jazz ensemble and Spain Park High School’s percussion ensemble were selected to perform at the Alabama Music Educators Association conference in Birmingham in January.
  • Hoover High School music teacher Matthew Cicero, Shades Mountain Elementary music teacher Meredith Devore and Trace Crossings Elementary music teacher Lisa Latham were selected to be presenters at the Alabama Music Educators Association conference.