Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) announced on Friday that two twin brothers from Eastside High School (EHS) were selected to the 2026 Honor Band of America.  

According to an ACPS press release, Derek and Daniel Ai, both juniors at EHS, were picked for the Honor Band by way of a “rigorous audition process that required them to submit recordings demonstrating a range of their musical abilities.” 

“I knew they had the caliber to do it,” Professor Chip A.F. Powell II, director of the EHS Band, said in the release. “It’s a great honor to be part of such an esteemed group of students, to have gone through the audition process and been selected out of so many.” 

As members of the Honor Band, Derek and Daniel traveled to Indianapolis to take part in the Music for All National Festival that was held March 25-28. At the event, the release said the brothers participated in “intensive rehearsals and workshops led by some of the nation’s top music educators.” They also got the chance to work with fellow musicians from throughout the U.S. and perform in the festival’s final concert.  

Derek talked about the opportunity to participate in the festival.  

“I was able to meet a lot of people that are just as passionate about music as I am,” he said in the release. “It was really nice to be able to play such difficult pieces in such a short amount of time with such talented musicians.” 

Daniel shared a similar perspective to his brother.  

“It was really enriching to meet such talented people from all over the country,” he said in the release. “It was really exciting working with them and playing with them.” 

According to the release, Derek and Daniel have been immersed in music from an early age. They began playing piano as children and took up the clarinet in fourth grade with encouragement from their older sister. They continued developing their skills at Lincoln Middle School and now serve in leadership roles in the EHS Band – Derek as clarinet section leader and Daniel as assistant section leader. 

“They have a very amiable competition with each other,” Powell said. “If one has it and the other doesn’t, that kind of lights a fire under the one that doesn’t to make sure that he gets it. But they also help each other, they work with each other, which then translates to the rest of the band, where they help everyone out.” 

In addition to their musical achievements, Derek and Daniel are enrolled in Eastside’s rigorous International Baccalaureate program. They also participate in Model United Nations, are members of the swim team, and perform with the Alachua County Youth Orchestra. 

Both credit music with helping them build meaningful connections. 

“Many of my friends I met through the band and orchestra,” Daniel said. “I really feel that music has helped me branch out and meet people I might not have met.” 

Derek also agreed that music has helped form connections.  

“Music is a language everyone can understand,” he said. “When I play, I feel I’m interconnected with a larger web of people I closely identify with.” 

While the twins both plan to pursue careers in medicine, they agree that music will continue to be a part of their lives. 

“I plan to be a doctor, but I definitely see myself continuing music as a hobby and participating in ensembles in college,” Derek said.  

Daniel also plans to keep music in his life moving forward. 

“Music has been such an integral part of my life and giving it up completely as an adult would be giving up an important part of my personality and history,” he said. “Music will still be a pastime for me and a part of my life in the future.”