Allison and Clayton Williams of Niobrara County School District Number 1 were chosen last year, 2017, to participate in the 2018 Wyoming All State Marching Band (WASMB). The duo, which  were required to play a part in their hometown band and be nominated for the accolade by their instructor, traveled to Powell in June of this year to begin working with the other 160 Wyoming-ites on footwork and songs for the WASMB. All of the participants from the WASMB are from various parts of Wyoming and are required to be in high school when they are nominated. Allison is a current NCHS junior while Clayton is a senior. Allison and Clayton are the children of Lisa and JD Williams. 

Once they arrived at Powell, three days of hard-hitting practice were in store, wherein Allison states, “I didn’t know what marking time was or how to march with others, and it was challenging to learn how to march in sync with everyone else. I appreciate home more and the friends I have,” and Clayton adds, “I found marching eight miles a day at band camp was not fun. I didn’t know what marking time meant before I went to band camp. It wasn’t difficult, but something new”.

The next month was busy as they found their hard work paid off while they made their way with the WASMB around the state to perform in parades that included Cody, Sheridan, Cheyenne Frontier Days, and finally Rock Springs, all of which took place during the month of July. Both Allison and Clayton agree the Cheyenne Frontier Days parade was their favorite due to a combination of decent weather and the large support from the crowd as they passed by. 

“When I was in elementary school, I wanted to play the flute because they said it was one of the most difficult instruments to master. I wanted to learn how to do it,” explains Allison Williams. Allison carried the love of the flute into the WASMB by performing both Flute I and Flute II parts in the three production songs. Outside of WASMB, Allison also plays the piccolo. When asked what her favorite memory so far has been, Allison replied, “My favorite memory is marching in the parades and showing people what the end result of our hard work was,” adding, “Mr. Wagner taught me a lot and I enjoyed all of his helpful advice. I will always be able to play the flute and enjoy it”. 

For Clayton Williams, band began in 4th grade where he played for Mr. Davies on the trumpet. “He [Davies] taught me a lot and taught me to enjoy playing the instrument in a way that I wanted to continue playing it,” says Clayton. In addition to the trumpet, Clayton also performs on the guitar, trombone, tuba, French horn, accordion, and sings baritone. While apart of the WASMB, Clayton plays Trumpet II in all three of their production songs. “My favorite memory so far is having the opportunity to be instructed by Mr. Brent Rose. My sister and I are the only people in the band that come from Lusk, where he is from,” shares Clayton, adding, “I have learned how to mark time, how to march, and gained a new appreciation for high standards and someone bringing the best out of me. It has given me a better appreciation for music and I enjoy being part of a band that performs well, sounds good and looks good”. 

The final parade will come at Thanksgiving when the two will travel to the east coast with the rest of the WASMB members to New York where they will perform during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. In addition, they will also visit Philadelphia. “This experience has shown me how diverse the kids in Wyoming really are and appreciate being raised in a small, rural community. It has also allowed me the opportunity to play in a big band that I would not have had otherwise,” Allison marveled. For Clayton the experience has enhanced his appreciation for his home-grown roots; “Coming from a ranch and a small community, it has helped me appreciate home. There are a lot of crazy people out there, but crazy people can be nice too. We are all in the band together”.  Allison and Clayton would like to thank John and Tiffany Thurston, Teresa Tucker, and the Silver Cliff Theatre Company for helping make the opportunity become a reality.