Shelby Jones has made history for Ethel High School as being the first from the school to be a member of the Mississippi Lions All-State Band that marched in the Lions International Parade in Japan.
She recently returned home from the trip which also had other “firsts” for the Ethel student including airplane ride and trip outside the United States. “Small towns in Japan were like a metropolis to me,” she said.
In keeping with its winning record, Shelby can testify to being a member of the band which again brought honor to the state for winning the competition the 32nd time from 66 years of participation in the International Parade.
She graduated from Ethel High School in May. The road to being named to the band came after she auditioned four times for a spot among the flute players. She credits much of her training to the EHS band director Cindy Musselwhite and her private instructor Jessica Banks.
Preparation for the trip began with seven days of practice at Jones Community College in Ellisville. The 148 members of the band from schools throughout the state were under the leadership of Justin Harvison of Germantown, marching instructor; Jeff Cannon of Terry, director; Mickey Mangum of Long Beach, former director of the Kosciusko High School “Big Red” Band, assistant director. Mangum’s wife, the former Rachel Ballard of Kosciusko and Ethel, also accompanied the band.
“Being able to interact with the Japanese people was most interesting,” Shelby said. Shortly after arrival she remembered being asked where they were from and after the reply of Mississippi in the United States, someone began singing the U.S. National Anthem. “That was so special,” she said. She was also impressed with the politeness of everyone and the quiet manner in which they expressed themselves.
“The Mississippi band has the reputation of being a winner and we were impressed with hearing a Mississippi chant along the parade route,” Shelby said.
Shopping and sightseeing were enjoyable but the same could not be said of the food, she said “Food was labeled on the buffets and one morning salted squid guts were offered at breakfast,” she said. Eel and squid were found on many menus.
Shopping and sightseeing included on the itinerary included Miyajima Island, Peace Museum, Tokyo city tour, Hiroshima, Tokyo Disney and Aon Mall.
In August, Shelby will begin preparation for a career in music as she begins classes at the University of Mississippi to major in music education with an emphasis in woodwind. She hopes to become a band director.
