MacKenzie Schrotenboer has played the flute since fifth grade. And she has played it every year she has been in high school as part of the San Joaquin County Honor Band.

Now a senior, Schrotenboer was recognized as one of 27 four-year participants in the Honor Band at the Saturday, Jan. 12 concert performance, which brought together musicians from 21 different schools in 10 San Joaquin County school districts. Those eligible received the Nelson Zane Four-Year Award.

“I’m not sure why,” the senior admitted when asked why she chose that instrument. “I just liked the sound of it.”

She said she was introduced to a number of instruments when the high school band teacher at the time came to her school and showcased the instruments and the opportunity to get involved in the music program early on.

“The experience of it, you get to meet new people and you get to play for different conductors,” Schrotenboer added of what she has enjoyed most over the years about being in Honor Band. “They all teach you new things and the music can be more challenging than what you would normally do in high school.”

Music also runs in the family; her sister at El Portal plays the flute and her brother, an EHS freshman, plays the drums.

“I don’t think I’ll major in it but I might want to minor in it,” Schrotenboer said of music in college.

She does have her sights set on pursuing a business major and is looking at USC, UCLA, San Diego State and Arizona State.

Schrotenboer was one of several Escalon High School students, both band and choir, that were part of the San Joaquin County High School Honors Concert.

Band students from Escalon also included Chaz Cisneros, piano; Grace Resendes, flute; and Hayden Farris, French horn. Nine choir students represented Escalon: Mitchell Cole, Alex Guevara, Jacob Dietzel and Michael Megenney; Kaitlyn Ruiz, Rebecca Baeza, Sara Lee, Shelby Strock and Alisa Herrera.