Michelle Lampkin, 7/8 Band Director & Assistant HS Marching Band Director
Participating in marching band, concert band, or jazz band in college can be a rewarding experience with many benefits. All require dedication and practice, and help develop time management skills. Students have the opportunity to meet other students from various majors and backgrounds who are all there for the same reason, to continue playing their instrument and have fun while doing so.
We have 20 Benton graduates who are currently playing in an ensemble at the college level. Only 2 are pursuing music as a career where being in a collegiate ensemble is a graduation requirement. The others enjoyed band in high school and weren’t ready to stop playing their instrument!
Jacob Eiler, Molly Light, Alex Ludeking, and Marcus Newton are members of the ISU Cyclone Marching Band while Owen Krug is a member of the ISU Storm Band. Emery Rinderknecht is a member of Iowa State’s symphonic band. Taylor Kinion, Cayman Swartzendruber, and Hannah Woodley are members of the University of Northern Iowa’s marching band. Robert Davidson, Jackson Kleinmeyer, and Matthew Parmenter participate in Kirkwood’s community jazz ensemble. Kiera Carper, Jada Garrett, Anessa Smith, Ayriana Veerhusen, and Jenna Welty are members of Mount Mercy’s concert band. Samantha Dengler is a member of Wartburg’s wind ensemble while Rebecca Payne is a member of their symphonic band. Caitlin Atwood is a member of Coe College’s concert band.