By MARY LYNES SUTTON, Gazebo Staff

Maggie Fuchs, a freshman at Stratford, has been accepted into the Region Honor Band.

She has played the saxophone since fifth grade.

“I originally wanted to play the trumpet but couldn’t because I had braces,” she said. “Then, I heard jazz music and was like, ‘woah, that’s cool’ which lead me to choose the saxophone. I love playing jazz on it!”

After the first year of playing the saxophone with the lower school band, she began taking private lessons. It has paid off.

She auditioned for the Honor Band at the beginning of the year, and recently found out that she made it. The region includes high school students south of Atlanta. She is the No. 1 high school saxophone player in our area for the jazz band and ranked second in the concert band.

“She is incredible,” said Stratford band director Laura Voss. “Maggie is one of those rare kids who is a gifted musician, but she also has the work ethic and the dedication to develop this amazing potential that she has, and to develop it to the top of its form. That’s what makes her absolutely unstoppable.”

Maggie could not be more thrilled about getting this position. Freshmen getting second chair is very rare so this is a huge honor.

“When you practice hard you can achieve anything,” she said. “Never give up on your dreams.”