Central Middle 'Rocks' in their music department

Katie Codina is in her 8th year of teaching. She is a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans with a Bachelor in Music Education. Prior to Central Middle School, she spent seven years at Holy Cross School in New Orleans teaching 5th through 12th grade concert and marching bands. Under her direction, the bands consistently received superior ratings at district concert and marching festivals and placed the highest number of students in local honor bands. She was named Elementary Band Director of the Year in 2011.

This year the a combined 7th and 8th Grade Band from Central Middle School went to the LMEA District IV Band Festival and received the highest ratings of “1” or “Superior" from every judge in concert and sight-reading, giving them an overall “Sweepstakes Superior” Rating. The band also had three students- Jessica Froisy, Shelby Stevens, and Ryleigh Cotton-selected into the District IV Middle School Honor Band. Three students were also chosen into the Louisiana Bandmasters Association’s All-Star State Concert Bands-Jessica Froisy, Jolie Richardson, and Bella Istre.

The 6th Grade Beginning Band also performed at a festival, a first for the beginning band at Central. They received the highest ratings of “1” or “Superior” on each piece they performed at the Archdiocesan Band Festival in New Orleans. Five students from this band represented CMS at the Greater Baton Rouge Beginner Honor Band-Jace Riley, Jadon Shirley, Alexis Stevens, Sophia Abbahou, and Jordan Jones.

The band performed at the CMS Band Concert Sunday, May 17 at 5 p.m. at the East Ascension High Gym for the 7 & 8th grade District Fest.