Students from International Falls were among the region's top high school musicians to gather Oct.15 at the University of Wisconsin-Superior for a day of advanced skill clinics and performances during the annual Tri-State Honor Bands Festival.

Falls students taking part in the festival included Nora Christensen, flute; Ethan Johns, tuba; Justin Kapla, trombone; Markki LeBlanc, clarinet.

More than 130 honor band students spent the day working with noted guest musicians and university faculty, including Timothy Smith, retired conductor of the Marine Band, and Pamela Bowen Bustos, director of bands at UW-Superior.

The musicians capped the day with a public concert featuring musicians from 22 high schools in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan along with UW-Superior's Symphonic Band.

UW-Superior's Music Department is well known for preparing students for careers as music teachers and professional performers. The UW-Superior Honor Bands Festival is part of the department's ongoing effort to offer additional learning and performance opportunities to young musicians throughout the region.