Two students from the Chowan University Department of Music have been selected to perform with the 2015 National Small-College Intercollegiate Band to be held March 25-28 at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.

Junior Music Education major Nick Gaffney (saxophone) of Waldorf, MD has been fully accepted to perform with the ensemble, while fellow Junior Music Education major McKaela Lane (bassoon) of Knotts Island, NC is recognized as an alternate.

“Quite simply, this is the musician’s equivalent of earning a position on the NCAA All-American College Football team,” said Michael Butrico, director of bands at Chowan.

The general spirit and mission of the SCIB is to provide highly talented students from band programs at 4-year universities with fewer than 5000 students the opportunity to perform high quality literature at the College Band Directors National Association’s National Conference under a renowned conductor. This is truly a significant achievement when one considers that 70% of all post-secondary universities in the United States have enrollment of fewer than 5000 students!

This is only the second time that a student of Chowan University has been selected. Current senior Music Education major Vaughn Byrd (trombone) of Stafford, VA was a 2013 participant.

Congratulations to Nick Gaffney and McKaela Lane for their recognition and outstanding achievement!