TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Sequoyah Schools’ sophomore Christie Tiger recently auditioned and earned a chair in an honor band. Tiger is the first Sequoyah student to earn this honor. She will play the trumpet in the Eastern Oklahoma Band Director’s Honor Band concert Feb. 6.

“I’m really excited,” Tiger said. “There were only 12 trumpets selected and I was one of them.”

“Christy Tiger is a person that is used to a challenge, so I asked her to try out for the Eastern Oklahoma Band Director’s Honor Band,” said Sam Morris, Sequoyah Schools’ band director. “She worked hard to make this happen, but I think she realizes that all the hard work paid off.”

“This is a real honor for our school,” said Rita Bunch, Sequoyah Schools’ superintendent. “Our band program is still very new and the fact that they have already achieved an honor like this lets me know that they are headed in the right direction.”

Sequoyah revived its band class in the spring of 2009 after an extensive absence. Sequoyah has since added choir to the list of electives for the students in a concentrated effort to provide students with more choices in the fine arts area. In addition to band and choir, Sequoyah also offers drama, speech, art and video production.

“The expansion of the arts program at Sequoyah supports our mission to provide students a well-rounded education that includes academics, athletics and the arts,” said Bill Andoe, fine arts director for the Cherokee Nation. “Additionally, current research reveals that students who participate in the arts may experience improved performance in other academic subjects, have better attitudes and behaviors.”

Tiger, 16, is the daughter of Dana Tiger of Muskogee and is Creek, Seminole and Cherokee. She will perform in the honor band concert Feb. 6 at Stigler High School in Stigler, Okla.