Del Norte High’s music department continues to shine as bright as a well-polished trombone.

Five Del Norte High students have been selected to be part of the 2026 Northern California Honor Band, a record for the Warriors. Previously, Del Norte High had never qualified more than three for the prestigious event, presented by the Northern California Band and Choir Directors Association.

Tabbed after a grueling audition process were Obadiah Josef (alto saxophone), Ian Stanley (trombone), Logan Swede (French horn), Nathaniel Monday (trumpet), and Madison Kong (clarinet).

“These students had to learn a challenging excerpt on their specific instrument and scales,” said Daniel Sedgwick, the school’s band director. “They competed with students from 27 Northern California counties. They had a lot of competition from larger school districts.”

For Stanley and Josef, it’s been a very good school year. In the fall, they were both named to the California Honor Choir.

The honor band will gather Thursday, rehearse for two solid days, then perform Saturday afternoon at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park.

For Kong, her selection was a wonderful surprise.

“It felt great,” she said of learning of her honor. “It’s really hard to get in. Lots of people try out every year.”

“Music brings me joy,” she said.

One of the things she is looking forward to is meeting people who share her passion for music but come from unique environments and vantage points.

“In a small town, everybody knows everybody,” she said. “This will be a chance to work with people with different viewpoints.”