Oxford High Musicians Hope to Help Continue Mississippi’s 30-Year Winning Streak

Imagine marching around in 90-degree Mississippi heat hauling a full-sized tuba. For 16-year-old Oxford High School student Ryan Hominick, it’s all worth it. He and three other other local high school musicians are part of the Mississippi Lions All-State Band, and they are competing Saturday in the Lions International Championship in Hawaii.

Hominick’s mother, Jeanne Lippincott, says the benefits of playing in the band are tremendous.

“It gives him an opportunity to work with the state’s finest musicians, the chance to travel and see new places and provides him with a strict work ethic to achieve excellence,” said Lippincott.

The 145-member band practiced all last week at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi. More than 800 students tried out for the opportunity, but with a 30-year history of winning the international competition, only the very best are selected.

Other local high students in the band include Lee Easson, who plays the bassoon, and Ben Wright, who plays the trumpet. Both students just graduated from Oxford High.  Clarinet player Taylor Bost is representing Lafayette High School in the competition.

The Mississippi Lion’s Band took top honors both last year and the year before, so there’s a lot on the line, but Lippincott says her son seems to be taking it in stride.

“I don’t think he feels any pressure from that at all.  He is just looking forward to a great experience.”